8 “Oh, that I might have my request,

that God would grant what I hope for,

9 that God would be willing to crush me,

to let loose his hand and cut off my life!

10 Then I would still have this consolation—

my joy in unrelenting pain—

that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.

11 “What strength do I have, that I should still hope?

What prospects, that I should be patient?

12 Do I have the strength of stone?

Is my flesh bronze?

8 Oh that I might have my request;

And that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

9 Even that it would please God to destroy me;

That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

10 Then should I yet have comfort;

Yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare;

For I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

11 What is my strength, that I should hope?

And what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?

12 Is my strength the strength of stones?

Or is my flesh of brass?

8 “Oh, that I might have my request,

that God would grant my desire.

9 I wish he would crush me.

I wish he would reach out his hand and kill me.

10 At least I can take comfort in this:

Despite the pain,

I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

11 But I don’t have the strength to endure.

I have nothing to live for.

12 Do I have the strength of a stone?

Is my body made of bronze?

8 “Oh, that I might have my request,

That God would grant me the thing that I long for!

9 That it would please God to crush me,

That He would loose His hand and cut me off!

10 Then I would still have comfort;

Though in anguish I would exult,

He will not spare;

For I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

11 “What strength do I have, that I should hope?

And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?

12 Is my strength the strength of stones?

Or is my flesh bronze?

8 “How I wish that I might have what I ask for

and that God would give me what I hope for.

9 How I wish God would crush me

and reach out his hand to destroy me.

10 Then I would have this comfort

and be glad even in this unending pain,

because I would know I did not reject the words of the Holy One.

11 “I do not have the strength to wait.

There is nothing to hope for,

so why should I be patient?

12 I do not have the strength of stone;

my flesh is not bronze.

8 Oh that I might have my request;

And that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

9 Even that it would please God to crush me;

That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

10 And be it still my consolation,

Yea, let me exult in pain that spareth not,

That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

11 What is my strength, that I should wait?

And what is mine end, that I should be patient?

12 Is my strength the strength of stones?

Or is my flesh of brass?

8 Oh that I might have my request, and that †God would grant my desire! 9 And that it would please †God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off! 10 Then should I yet have comfort; and in the pain which spareth not I would rejoice that I have not denied the words of the Holy One. 11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should have patience? 12 Is my strength the strength of stones? is my flesh of brass?

8 “How I wish that my prayer would be answered— 

that God would give me what I’m hoping for, 

9 that God would ⸤finally⸥ be willing to crush me, 

that he would reach out to cut me off. 

10 Then I would still have comfort. 

I would be happy despite my endless pain, 

because I have not rejected the words of the Holy One. 

11 What strength do I have ⸤left⸥ that I can go on hoping? 

What goal do I have that I would want to prolong my life? 

12 Do I have the strength of rocks? 

Does my body have the strength of bronze? 

8 If only my request would be granted

and God would provide what I hope for:

9 that He would decide to crush me,

to unleash His power and cut me off!

10 It would still bring me comfort,

and I would leap for joy in unrelenting pain

that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

11 What strength do I have that I should continue to hope?

What is my future, that I should be patient?

12 Is my strength that of stone,

or my flesh made of bronze?

8 “O that I might have my request

and that God would grant my desire,

9 that it would please God to crush me,

that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!

10 This would be my consolation;

I would even exult in unrelenting pain,

for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

11 What is my strength, that I should wait?

And what is my end, that I should be patient?

12 Is my strength the strength of stones,

or is my flesh bronze?

8 “O that my request may come,

and that God may grant my hope,

9 that God would decide that he would crush me,

that he would let loose his hand and kill me.

10 But it will still be my consolation,

and I would recoil in unrelenting pain,

for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

11 What is my strength, that I should wait?

And what is my end, that I should hold out?

12 Or is my strength like the strength of stones?

Or is my flesh bronze?

8 “I wish I could have what I’m asking for!

I wish God would give me what I’m hoping for!

9 I wish he would crush me!

I wish his powerful hand would cut off my life!

10 Then I’d still have one thing to comfort me.

It would be that I haven’t said no to the Holy One’s commands.

That would give me joy in spite of my pain that never ends.

11 “I’m so weak that I no longer have any hope.

Things have gotten so bad that I can’t wait for help anymore.

12 Am I as strong as stone?

Is my body made out of bronze?

8 “Oh that my request might come to pass,

And that God would grant my longing!

9 “Would that God were willing to crush me,

That He would loose His hand and cut me off!

10 “But it is still my consolation,

And I rejoice in unsparing pain,

That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

11 “What is my strength, that I should wait?

And what is my end, that I should endure?

12 “Is my strength the strength of stones,

Or is my flesh bronze?