1My soul is weary of my life ; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul . 2I will say unto God , Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. 3Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress , that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands , and shine upon the counsel of the wicked ? 4Hast thou eyes of flesh ? or seest thou as man seeth ? 5Are thy days as the days of man ? are thy years as man’s days , 6That thou enquirest after mine iniquity , and searchest after my sin ? 7Thou knowest that I am not wicked ; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand .
The Sovereignty of God
8Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about ; yet thou dost destroy me. 9Remember , I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay ; and wilt thou bring me into dust again ? 10Hast thou not poured me out as milk , and curdled me like cheese ? 11Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh , and hast fenced me with bones and sinews . 12Thou hast granted me life and favour , and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit .
Job's Desire for Justice
13And these things hast thou hid in thine heart : I know that this is with thee. 14If I sin , then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity . 15If I be wicked , woe unto me; and if I be righteous , yet will I not lift up my head . I am full of confusion ; therefore see thou mine affliction ; 16For it increaseth . Thou huntest me as a fierce lion : and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me. 17Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me ; changes and war are against me.
The Fragility of Life
18Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb ? Oh that I had given up the ghost , and no eye had seen me! 19I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave . 20Are not my days few ? cease then, and let me alone , that I may take comfort a little , 21Before I go whence I shall not return , even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death ; 22A land of darkness , as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death , without any order , and where the light is as darkness .