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I am not at ease or quiet; I have no rest, for trouble has come.”

Consider now, I plead: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Or where have the upright been destroyed?

As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same.

It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; a form loomed before my eyes, and I heard a whispering voice:

It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; a form loomed before my eyes, and I heard a whispering voice:

I have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed.

However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and lay my cause before Him—

However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and lay my cause before Him—

It still brings me comfort, and joy through unrelenting pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What is my future, that I should be patient?

What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What is my future, that I should be patient?

What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What is my future, that I should be patient?

Have I ever said, ‘Give me something; offer me a bribe from your wealth;

Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred.

Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred.

But now, please look at me. Would I lie to your face?

So I am allotted months of futility, and nights of misery are appointed to me.

When I lie down I think: ‘When will I get up?’ But the night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.

When I lie down I think: ‘When will I get up?’ But the night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.

When I lie down I think: ‘When will I get up?’ But the night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.

When I lie down I think: ‘When will I get up?’ But the night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.

The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. You will look for me, but I will be no more.

Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that You must keep me under guard?

When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,

…so that I would prefer strangling and death over my life in this body.

I loathe my life! I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

I loathe my life! I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

If I have sinned, what have I done to You, O watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, so that I am a burden to You?

If I have sinned, what have I done to You, O watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, so that I am a burden to You?

If I have sinned, what have I done to You, O watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, so that I am a burden to You?

Why do You not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For soon I will lie down in the dust; You will seek me, but I will be no more.”

Why do You not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For soon I will lie down in the dust; You will seek me, but I will be no more.”

If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’

“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?

Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move, I would not recognize Him.

Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move, I would not recognize Him.

How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him?

For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would listen to my voice.

If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would listen to my voice.

Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty.

Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty.

Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.

Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.

Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.

It is all the same, and so I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’

If I were to say, ‘I will forget my complaint and change my expression and smile,’

If I were to say, ‘I will forget my complaint and change my expression and smile,’

I would still dread all my sufferings; I know that You will not acquit me.

I would still dread all my sufferings; I know that You will not acquit me.

Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?

Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?

If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,

For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court.

Then I would speak without fear of Him. But as it is, I am on my own.

Then I would speak without fear of Him. But as it is, I am on my own.

“I loathe my own life; I will express my complaint and speak in the bitterness of my soul.

“I loathe my own life; I will express my complaint and speak in the bitterness of my soul.

I will say to God: Do not condemn me! Let me know why You prosecute me.

…though You know that I am not guilty, and there is no deliverance from Your hand?

Yet You concealed these things in Your heart, and I know that this was in Your mind:

If I sinned, You would take note, and would not acquit me of my iniquity.

If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction.

If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction.

If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction.

If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction.

Should I hold my head high, You would hunt me like a lion, and again display Your power against me.

Why then did You bring me from the womb? Oh, that I had died, and no eye had seen me!

If only I had never come to be, but had been carried from the womb to the grave.

Are my days not few? Withdraw from me, that I may have a little comfort,

…before I go—never to return—to a land of darkness and gloom,

You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’

But I also have a mind; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?

But I also have a mind; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?

I am a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.

I am a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.

What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.

What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.

Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.

Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may.

Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?

Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.

Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.

See now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated.

See now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated.

See now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated.

Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die.

Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You:

Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply.

When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes.

You will call, and I will answer; You will desire the work of Your hands.

Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen,

Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen,

Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen,

“I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all.