Z² C 1,2. Petition.
D w 3-7. Expostulation.
x 8-13. His creature.
D w 14-17. Expostulation. God's ways.
x 18,19. His creature.
C 20-22. Petition.
1656 B.C.
Job 10)
1 My soul is weary of my life; I will let go (i.e. give vent to) my complaining upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will say to GOD, 'Do not condemn me; show me wherefore You contend with me.
3 Is it good to You that You should oppress, that You should despise the work of Your hands (cp. Pss. 119:73; 138:8; 139:5,10), and shine upon the counsel of the lawless?
4 Have You eyes of flesh? or do You see as mortal man sees?
5 Are Your days as the days of man? are Your years as a strong man's days,
6 That You inquire after my iniquity, and search after my sin?
7 You know that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of Your hand.
8 Your hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet You do destroy me.
9 Remember, I beseech You, that You have made me as the clay; and will you bring me into dust again?
10 Have You not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?
11 You have clothed me with skin and flesh, and have knit me together with bones and sinews.
12 You have granted me life and favor, and Your visitation has preserved my breath.
13 And these things have You hid in Your heart: I know that this is with You.
14 If I sin, then You mark me, and You will not acquit me from my iniquity.
15 If I be wicked, woe to me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of shame; therefore see You my affliction;
16 For it increases. You hunt me as a fierce lion: and again You show Yourself marvelous upon me.
17 You renew Your witnesses against me, and increase Your indignation upon me; successions, yes hostile successions (a constant succession) are against me.
18 Wherefore then have You brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had died, 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,
21 Before I go where I shall not return, even to the land of deep darkness of death;
22 A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.' "