10 “I loathe my very life;(A)
    therefore I will give free rein to my complaint
    and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.(B)

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11 “Therefore I will not keep silent;(A)
    I will speak out in the anguish(B) of my spirit,
    I will complain(C) in the bitterness of my soul.(D)

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while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush,(A) sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life;(B) I am no better than my ancestors.”

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15 If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me(A)—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

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When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die,(A) and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”

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21 “Although I am blameless,(A)
    I have no concern for myself;(B)
    I despise my own life.(C)

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20 In famine(A) he will deliver you from death,
    and in battle from the stroke of the sword.(B)

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15 He saves the needy(A) from the sword in their mouth;
    he saves them from the clutches of the powerful.(B)
16 So the poor(C) have hope,
    and injustice shuts its mouth.(D)

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Now, Lord, take away my life,(A) for it is better for me to die(B) than to live.”(C)

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17 Surely it was for my benefit(A)
    that I suffered such anguish.(B)
In your love you kept me
    from the pit(C) of destruction;
you have put all my sins(D)
    behind your back.(E)

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15 But what can I say?(A)
    He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this.(B)
I will walk humbly(C) all my years
    because of this anguish of my soul.(D)

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When I kept silent,(A)
    my bones wasted away(B)
    through my groaning(C) all day long.
For day and night
    your hand was heavy(D) on me;
my strength was sapped(E)
    as in the heat of summer.[a]

Then I acknowledged my sin to you
    and did not cover up my iniquity.(F)
I said, “I will confess(G)
    my transgressions(H) to the Lord.”
And you forgave
    the guilt of my sin.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 32:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 7.

“Listen carefully to my words;(A)
    let this be the consolation you give me.(B)
Bear with me while I speak,
    and after I have spoken, mock on.(C)

“Is my complaint(D) directed to a human being?
    Why should I not be impatient?(E)

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If it is true that I have gone astray,
    my error(A) remains my concern alone.

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“Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;
    and if I refrain, it does not go away.(A)
Surely, God, you have worn me out;(B)
    you have devastated my entire household.(C)
You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness;
    my gauntness(D) rises up and testifies against me.(E)
God assails me and tears(F) me in his anger(G)
    and gnashes his teeth at me;(H)
    my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.(I)
10 People open their mouths(J) to jeer at me;(K)
    they strike my cheek(L) in scorn
    and unite together against me.(M)
11 God has turned me over to the ungodly
    and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.(N)
12 All was well with me, but he shattered me;
    he seized me by the neck and crushed me.(O)
He has made me his target;(P)
13     his archers surround me.(Q)
Without pity, he pierces(R) my kidneys
    and spills my gall on the ground.
14 Again and again(S) he bursts upon me;
    he rushes at me like a warrior.(T)

15 “I have sewed sackcloth(U) over my skin
    and buried my brow in the dust.(V)
16 My face is red with weeping,(W)
    dark shadows ring my eyes;(X)

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13 “If only you would hide me in the grave(A)
    and conceal me till your anger has passed!(B)
If only you would set me a time
    and then remember(C) me!(D)

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15 If I am guilty(A)—woe to me!(B)
    Even if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head,(C)
for I am full of shame
    and drowned in[a] my affliction.(D)
16 If I hold my head high, you stalk me like a lion(E)
    and again display your awesome power against me.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. Job 10:15 Or and aware of

16 I despise my life;(A) I would not live forever.(B)
    Let me alone;(C) my days have no meaning.(D)

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26 Do you mean to correct what I say,
    and treat my desperate words as wind?(A)

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“Oh, that I might have my request,
    that God would grant what I hope for,(A)
that God would be willing to crush(B) me,
    to let loose his hand and cut off my life!(C)

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“If only my anguish could be weighed
    and all my misery be placed on the scales!(A)
It would surely outweigh the sand(B) of the seas—
    no wonder my words have been impetuous.(C)
The arrows(D) of the Almighty(E) are in me,(F)
    my spirit drinks(G) in their poison;(H)
    God’s terrors(I) are marshaled against me.(J)

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20 “Why is light given to those in misery,
    and life to the bitter of soul,(A)
21 to those who long for death that does not come,(B)
    who search for it more than for hidden treasure,(C)
22 who are filled with gladness
    and rejoice when they reach the grave?(D)
23 Why is life given to a man
    whose way is hidden,(E)
    whom God has hedged in?(F)

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