14 If I sinned, you would be watching me

and would not let my offense go unpunished.

15 If I am guilty—woe to me!

Even if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head,

for I am full of shame

and drowned in my affliction.

16 If I hold my head high, you stalk me like a lion

and again display your awesome power against me.

17 You bring new witnesses against me

and increase your anger toward me;

your forces come against me wave upon wave.

18 “Why then did you bring me out of the womb?

I wish I had died before any eye saw me.

19 If only I had never come into being,

or had been carried straight from the womb to the grave!

20 Are not my few days almost over?

Turn away from me so I can have a moment’s joy

14 If I sin, then thou markest me,

And thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.

15 If 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;

16 For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion:

And again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me.

17 Thou renewest thy witnesses against me,

And increasest thine indignation upon me;

Changes and war are against me.

18 Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb?

Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!

19 I should have been as though I had not been;

I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.

20 Are not my days few? cease then,

And let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,

14 was to watch me, and if I sinned,

you would not forgive my guilt.

15 If I am guilty, too bad for me;

and even if I’m innocent, I can’t hold my head high,

because I am filled with shame and misery.

16 And if I hold my head high, you hunt me like a lion

and display your awesome power against me.

17 Again and again you witness against me.

You pour out your growing anger on me

and bring fresh armies against me.

18 “ ‘Why, then, did you deliver me from my mother’s womb?

Why didn’t you let me die at birth?

19 It would be as though I had never existed,

going directly from the womb to the grave.

20 I have only a few days left, so leave me alone,

that I may have a moment of comfort

14 If I sin, then You mark me,

And will not acquit me of my iniquity.

15 If I am wicked, woe to me;

Even if I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head.

I am full of disgrace;

See my misery!

16 If my head is exalted,

You hunt me like a fierce lion,

And again You show Yourself awesome against me.

17 You renew Your witnesses against me,

And increase Your indignation toward me;

Changes and war are ever with me.

18 ‘Why then have You brought me out of the womb?

Oh, that I had perished and no eye had seen me!

19 I would have been as though I had not been.

I would have been carried from the womb to the grave.

20 Are not my days few?

Cease! Leave me alone, that I may take a little comfort,

14 If I sinned, you would watch me

and would not let my sin go unpunished.

15 How terrible it will be for me if I am guilty!

Even if I am right, I cannot lift my head.

I am full of shame

and experience only pain.

16 If I hold up my head, you hunt me like a lion

and again show your terrible power against me.

17 You bring new witnesses against me

and increase your anger against me.

Your armies come against me.

18 “So why did you allow me to be born?

I wish I had died before anyone saw me.

19 I wish I had never lived,

but had been carried straight from birth to the grave.

20 The few days of my life are almost over.

Leave me alone so I can have a moment of joy.

14 If I sin, then thou markest me,

And thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.

15 If I be wicked, woe unto me;

And if I be righteous, yet shall I not lift up my head;

Being filled with ignominy,

And looking upon mine affliction.

16 And if my head exalt itself, thou huntest me as a lion;

And again thou showest thyself marvellous upon me.

17 Thou renewest thy witnesses against me,

And increasest thine indignation upon me:

Changes and warfare are with me.

18 Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb?

I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me.

19 I should have been as though I had not been;

I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.

20 Are not my days few? cease then,

And let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,

14 If I sinned, thou wouldest mark me, and thou wouldest not acquit me of mine iniquity. 15 If I were wicked, woe unto me! and righteous, I will not lift up my head, being so full of shame, and beholding mine affliction; — 16 And it increaseth: thou huntest me as a fierce lion; and ever again thou shewest thy marvellous power upon me. 17 Thou renewest thy witnesses before me and increasest thy displeasure against me; successions of evil and a time of toil are with me. 18 And wherefore didst thou bring me forth out of the womb? I had expired, and no eye had seen me. 19 I should be as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave. 20 Are not my days few? cease then and let me alone, that I may revive a little,

14 “ ‘If I sin, you watch me 

and will not free me from my guilt. 

15 How terrible it will be for me if I’m guilty! 

Even if I’m righteous, I dare not lift up my head. 

I am filled with disgrace 

while I look on my misery. 

16 Like a proud, ferocious lion you hunt me down. 

You keep working your miracles against me. 

17 You keep finding new witnesses against me. 

You keep increasing your anger toward me. 

You keep bringing new armies against me. 

18 “ ‘Why did you take me out of the womb? 

I wish I had breathed my last breath 

before anyone had laid eyes on me. 

19 Then it would be as if I had never existed, 

as if I had been carried from the womb to the tomb. 

20 “ ‘Isn’t my life short enough? 

So stop ⸤this⸥, and leave me alone. 

Let me smile a little 

14 if I sin, You would notice,

and would not acquit me of my wrongdoing.

15 If I am wicked, woe to me!

And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head.

I am filled with shame

and aware of my affliction.

16 If I am proud, You hunt me like a lion

and again display Your miraculous power against me.

17 You produce new witnesses against me

and multiply Your anger toward me.

Hardships assault me, wave after wave.

18 “Why did You bring me out of the womb?

I should have died and never been seen.

19 I wish I had never existed

but had been carried from the womb to the grave.

20 Are my days not few? Stop it!

Leave me alone, so that I can smile a little

14 If I sin, you watch me,

and do not acquit me of my iniquity.

15 If I am wicked, woe to me!

If I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head,

for I am filled with disgrace

and look upon my affliction.

16 Bold as a lion you hunt me;

you repeat your exploits against me.

17 You renew your witnesses against me,

and increase your vexation toward me;

you bring fresh troops against me.

18 “Why did you bring me forth from the womb?

Would that I had died before any eye had seen me,

19 and were as though I had not been,

carried from the womb to the grave.

20 Are not the days of my life few?

Let me alone, that I may find a little comfort

14 If I had sinned, then you would be watching me,

and you would not acquit me of my guilt.

15 If I am guilty, woe to me!

But if I am righteous, I dare not lift my head;

I am filled with shame, and just look at my misery!

16 And if my head grows bold, you would hunt me as the lion in its prime;

and you repeat your exploits against me.

17 You renew your witnesses against me,

and you increase your vexation against me;

relief forces are against me.

18 So why did you bring me forth from the womb?

I should have passed away, and no eye should have seen me.

19 I should have been as though I had not been;

I should have been brought from the womb to the grave.

20 Are not my days few? Let him leave me alone;

let him turn from me, and let me rejoice a little.

14 If I sinned, you would be watching me.

You wouldn’t let me go without punishing me.

15 If I were guilty, how terrible that would be for me!

Even if I haven’t sinned,

I can’t be proud of what I’ve done.

That’s because I’m so full of shame.

I’m drowning in my suffering.

16 If I become proud, you hunt me down like a lion.

You show your mighty power against me.

17 You bring new witnesses against me.

You become more and more angry with me.

You use your power against me again and again.

18 “ ‘Why did you bring me out of my mother’s body?

I wish I had died before anyone saw me.

19 I wish I’d never been born!

I wish I’d been carried straight from my mother’s body to the grave!

20 Aren’t my few days almost over?

Leave me so I can have a moment of joy.

14 If I sin, then You would take note of me,

And would not acquit me of my guilt.

15 ‘If I am wicked, woe to me!

And if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head.

I am sated with disgrace and conscious of my misery.

16 ‘Should my head be lifted up, You would hunt me like a lion;

And again You would show Your power against me.

17 ‘You renew Your witnesses against me

And increase Your anger toward me;

Hardship after hardship is with me.

18 ‘Why then have You brought me out of the womb?

Would that I had died and no eye had seen me!

19 ‘I should have been as though I had not been,

Carried from womb to tomb.’

20 “Would He not let my few days alone?

Withdraw from me that I may have a little cheer