Chapter 10

  My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.  

--

  I will say to God, Do not condemn me; show me why thou contendest with me.  

--

  Is it good to thee that thou shouldst oppress, that thou shouldst despise the work of thy hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?  

--

  Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?  

--

  Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man's days,  

--

  That thou inquirest after my iniquity, and searchest after my sin?  

--

  Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thy hand.  

--

  Thy hands have made me and fashioned me in all my parts; yet thou dost destroy me.  

--

  Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?  

--

  Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?  

--

  Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews.  

--

  Thou hast granted me life and favor, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.  

--

  And these things hast thou hid in thy heart: I know that this is with thee.  

--

  If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from my iniquity.  

--

  If I be wicked, woe to me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou my affliction;  

--

  For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou showest thyself wonderful upon me.  

--

  Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thy indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.  

--

  Why then hast thou brought me forth from the womb? O that I had expired, and no eye had seen me!  

--

  I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.  

--

  Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,  

--

  Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness, and the shades of death;  

--

  A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shades of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.  

--