Job 10

¹My soul hath been weary of my life, I leave off my talking to myself, I speak in the bitterness of my soul. ²I say unto God, ‘Do not condemn me, Let me know why Thou dost strive with me. ³Is it good for Thee that Thou dost oppress? That Thou despisest the labour of Thy hands, And on the counsel of the wicked hast shone? ⁴Eyes of flesh hast Thou? As man seeth—seest Thou? ⁵As the days of man are Thy days? Thy years as the days of a man? ⁶That Thou inquirest for mine iniquity, And for my sin seekest? ⁷For Thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is no deliverer from Thy hand.

⁸Thy hands have taken pains about me, And they make me together round about, And Thou swallowest me up! ⁹Remember, I pray Thee, That as clay Thou hast made me, And unto dust Thou dost bring me back. ¹⁰Dost Thou not as milk pour me out? And as cheese curdle me? ¹¹Skin and flesh Thou dost put on me, And with bones and sinews dost fence me. ¹²Life and kindness Thou hast done with me. And Thy inspection hath preserved my spirit. ¹³And these Thou hast laid up in Thy heart, I have known that this is with Thee.

¹⁴If I sinned, then Thou hast observed me, And from mine iniquity dost not acquit me, ¹⁵If I have done wickedly—woe to me, And righteously—I lift not up my head, Full of shame—then see my affliction, ¹⁶And it riseth—as a lion Thou huntest me. And Thou turnest back—Thou shewest Thyself wonderful in me. ¹⁷Thou renewest Thy witnesses against me, And dost multiply Thine anger with me, Changes and warfare are with me. ¹⁸And why from the womb Hast Thou brought me forth? I expire, and the eye doth not see me. ¹⁹As I had not been, I am, From the belly to the grave I am brought, ²⁰Are not my days few? Cease then, and put from me, And I brighten up a little, ²¹Before I go, and return not, Unto a land of darkness and death-shade, ²²A land of obscurity as thick darkness, Death-shade—and no order, And the shining is as thick darkness.’

Chapter 11