^18 (A)Why did I come out from the womb
    ^(B)to see toil and sorrow,
    and spend my days in shame?

¹⁵ so that I would choose strangling
    and death rather than my ^(A)bones.
¹⁶ I ^(B)loathe my life; I would not live forever.
    ^(C)Leave me alone, for my days are ^(D)a breath.

⁶ Give strong drink to the one who ^(A)is perishing,
    and wine to ^(B)those in bitter distress;^[a]

³⁰ to bring back his soul from the pit,
    that he may be lighted with ^(A)the light of life.

²⁸ He has redeemed my ^(A)soul from going down ^(B)into the pit,
    and my life shall ^(C)look upon the light.’

⁹ that it would ^(A)please God to crush me,
    that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!

¹⁶ Or why was I not as a hidden ^(A)stillborn child,
    as infants who never see the light?