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Job Cries Out to God

10 (A)My soul is loathed by my life;
I will abandon all restraint in myself to (B)my complaint;
I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
I will say to God, ‘(C)Do not account me as wicked;
Let me know why You contend with me.
Is it good to You that You (D)oppress,
That You reject (E)the labor of Your hands,
And [a]cause (F)the counsel of the wicked to shine forth?
Have You eyes of flesh?
Or do You (G)see as a mortal man sees?
Are Your days as the days of a mortal man,
Or (H)Your years as man’s years,
That (I)You should seek for my guilt
And search after my sin?
According to Your knowledge (J)I am indeed not wicked,
Yet there is (K)no [b]deliverer from Your hand.

(L)Your hands fashioned and made me [c]altogether,
(M)And would You swallow me up?
Remember now, that You have made me as (N)clay;
And would You (O)turn me into dust again?
10 Did You not pour me out like milk
And curdle me like cheese,
11 Clothe me with skin and flesh,
And knit me together with bones and sinews?
12 You have (P)made alongside me life and lovingkindness;
And Your care has kept my spirit.
13 Yet (Q)these things You have concealed in Your heart;
I know that this is within You:
14 If I sin, then You would (R)take note of me
And (S)would not acquit me of my guilt.
15 If (T)I am wicked, woe to me!
And (U)if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head.
I am sated with disgrace—so see my misery!
16 Should my head be set on high, (V)You would hunt me like a lion;
And again You would show Your (W)wonders against me.
17 You renew (X)Your witnesses against me
And increase Your vexation toward me;
[d](Y)Hardship after hardship is with me.

18 (Z)Why then have You brought me out of the womb?
Would that I had breathed my last 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 cease (AA)for a few of my days?
[e](AB)Withdraw from me that I may have a little cheer
21 Before I go—(AC)and I shall not return—
(AD)To the land of darkness and (AE)shadow of death,
22 The land of utter gloom as the thick darkness itself,
Of the shadow of death, without order,
And which shines as the thick darkness.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 10:3 Lit You shine forth
  2. Job 10:7 Or deliverance
  3. Job 10:8 Lit together round about
  4. Job 10:17 Lit Changes and warfare are with me
  5. Job 10:20 Lit Put

10 “My soul is weary of my life.
    I will give free course to my complaint.
    I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
I will tell God, ‘Do not condemn me.
    Show me why you contend with me.
Is it good to you that you should oppress,
    that you should despise the work of your hands,
    and smile on the counsel of the wicked?
Do you have eyes of flesh?
    Or do you see as man sees?
Are your days as the days of mortals,
    or your years as man’s years,
that you inquire after my iniquity,
    and search after my sin?
Although you know that I am not wicked,
    there is no one who can deliver out of your hand.

“‘Your hands have framed me and fashioned me altogether,
    yet you destroy me.
Remember, I beg you, that you have fashioned me as clay.
    Will you bring me into dust again?
10 Haven’t you poured me out like milk,
    and curdled me like cheese?
11 You have clothed me with skin and flesh,
    and knit me together with bones and sinews.
12 You have granted me life and loving kindness.
    Your visitation has preserved my spirit.
13 Yet you hid these things in your heart.
    I know that this is with you:
14 if I sin, then you mark me.
    You will not acquit me from my iniquity.
15 If I am wicked, woe to me.
    If I am righteous, I still will not lift up my head,
    being filled with disgrace,
    and conscious of my affliction.
16 If my head is held high, you hunt me like a lion.
    Again you show yourself powerful to me.
17 You renew your witnesses against me,
    and increase your indignation on me.
    Changes and warfare are with me.

18 “‘Why, then, have you brought me out of the womb?
    I wish I had given up the spirit, 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 Aren’t my days few?
    Stop!
Leave me alone, that I may find a little comfort,
21     before I go where I will not return from,
    to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death;
22 the land dark as midnight,
    of the shadow of death,
    without any order,
    where the light is as midnight.’”