My

You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet.

You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet.

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

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

For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.

For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.

My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.

My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.

I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.

I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.

But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.

But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.

Even if I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I hold back, how will it go away?

Surely He has now exhausted me; You have devastated all my family.

You have bound me, and it has become a witness; my frailty rises up and testifies against me.

His anger has torn me and opposed me; He gnashes His teeth at me. My adversary pierces me with His eyes.

They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt; they join together against me.

His archers surround me. He pierces my kidneys without mercy and spills my gall on the ground.

His archers surround me. He pierces my kidneys without mercy and spills my gall on the ground.

I have sewn sackcloth over my skin; I have buried my horn in the dust.

I have sewn sackcloth over my skin; I have buried my horn in the dust.

My face is red with weeping, and deep shadows ring my eyes;

My face is red with weeping, and deep shadows ring my eyes;

…yet my hands are free of violence and my prayer is pure.

…yet my hands are free of violence and my prayer is pure.

O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help never be laid to rest.

O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help never be laid to rest.

Even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.

Even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.

My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.

My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.

My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.

“My spirit is broken; my days are extinguished; the grave awaits me.

“My spirit is broken; my days are extinguished; the grave awaits me.

Surely mockers surround me, and my eyes must gaze at their rebellion.

Give me, I pray, the pledge You demand. Who else will be my guarantor?

My eyes have grown dim with grief, and my whole body is but a shadow.

My eyes have grown dim with grief, and my whole body is but a shadow.

My days have passed; my plans are broken off—even the desires of my heart.

My days have passed; my plans are broken off—even the desires of my heart.

My days have passed; my plans are broken off—even the desires of my heart.

If I look for Sheol as my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness,

If I look for Sheol as my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness,

…and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’

…and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’

…and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’

…where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?

Even if I have truly gone astray, my error concerns me alone.

If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and use my disgrace against me,

He has blocked my way so I cannot pass; He has veiled my paths with darkness.

He has blocked my way so I cannot pass; He has veiled my paths with darkness.

He has stripped me of my honor and removed the crown from my head.

He has stripped me of my honor and removed the crown from my head.

He tears me down on every side until I am gone; He uproots my hope like a tree.

His troops advance together; they construct a ramp against me and encamp around my tent.

He has removed my brothers from me; my acquaintances have abandoned me.

He has removed my brothers from me; my acquaintances have abandoned me.

My kinsmen have failed me, and my friends have forgotten me.

My kinsmen have failed me, and my friends have forgotten me.

My guests and maidservants count me as a stranger; I am a foreigner in their sight.

I call for my servant, but he does not answer, though I implore him with my own mouth.

I call for my servant, but he does not answer, though I implore him with my own mouth.

My breath is repulsive to my wife, and I am loathsome to my own family.

My breath is repulsive to my wife, and I am loathsome to my own family.

My breath is repulsive to my wife, and I am loathsome to my own family.

All my best friends despise me, and those I love have turned against me.

My skin and flesh cling to my bones; I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.

My skin and flesh cling to my bones; I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.

My skin and flesh cling to my bones; I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.

Have pity on me, my friends, have pity, for the hand of God has struck me.

Why do you persecute me as God does? Will you never get enough of my flesh?

I wish that my words were recorded and inscribed in a book,

But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth.

Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.

Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.

I will see Him for myself; my eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger. How my heart yearns within me!

I will see Him for myself; my eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger. How my heart yearns within me!

“So my anxious thoughts compel me to answer, because of the turmoil within me.

I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding prompts a reply.

“Listen carefully to my words; let this be your consolation to me.

Is my complaint against a man? Then why should I not be impatient?

When I remember, terror takes hold, and my body trembles in horror.

“Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

“Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.

I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.

Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside.

I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.

God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.

If this is not so, then who can prove me a liar and reduce my words to nothing?”

“As surely as God lives, who has deprived me of justice—the Almighty, who has embittered my soul—

…as long as my breath is still within me and the breath of God remains in my nostrils,

…as long as my breath is still within me and the breath of God remains in my nostrils,

…my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will not utter deceit.

…my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will not utter deceit.

I will never say that you are right; I will maintain my integrity until I die.

I will cling to my righteousness and never let go. As long as I live, my conscience will not accuse me.

I will cling to my righteousness and never let go. As long as I live, my conscience will not accuse me.