Job 10:17-11:13

English Standard Version

^18 (C)“Why did you bring me out from the womb?
    Would that I had died before any eye had seen me
^19 (D)and were as though I had not been,
    carried from the womb to the grave.
^20 (E)Are not my days few?
    ^(F)Then cease, and leave me alone, ^(G)that I may find a little cheer
²¹ before I go—and ^(H)I shall not return—
    to the land of ^(I)darkness and ^(J)deep shadow,
²² the land of gloom like thick darkness,
    like deep shadow without any order,
    where light is as thick darkness.”

² “Should ^(L)a multitude of words go unanswered,
    and a man full of talk be judged right?
³ Should your babble silence men,
    and when you mock, shall no one shame you?
⁴ For ^(M)you say, ‘My ^(N)doctrine is pure,
    and I am clean in God's^[a] eyes.’
⁵ But oh, that God would speak
    and open his lips to you,
⁶ and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
    For he is manifold in ^(O)understanding.^[b]
Know then that God ^(P)exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.

^7 (Q)“Can you find out the deep things of God?
    Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
⁸ It is ^(R)higher than heaven^[c]—what can you do?
    Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
⁹ Its measure is longer than the earth
    and broader than the sea.
¹⁰ If he ^(S)passes through and ^(T)imprisons
    and summons the court, who can ^(U)turn him back?
¹¹ For he knows ^(V)worthless men;
    when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?
¹² But a stupid man will get understanding
    when ^(W)a wild donkey's colt is ^(X)born a man!

¹³ “If you ^(Y)prepare your heart,
    you will ^(Z)stretch out your hands toward him.