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Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

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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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Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”

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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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Wisdom for Life

A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.
    And the day you die is better than the day you are born.

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Wisdom

A good name is better than fine perfume,(A)
    and the day of death better than the day of birth.(B)

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14 Yet I curse the day I was born!
    May no one celebrate the day of my birth.
15 I curse the messenger who told my father,
    “Good news—you have a son!”
16 Let him be destroyed like the cities of old
    that the Lord overthrew without mercy.
Terrify him all day long with battle shouts,
17     because he did not kill me at birth.
Oh, that I had died in my mother’s womb,
    that her body had been my grave!
18 Why was I ever born?
    My entire life has been filled
    with trouble, sorrow, and shame.

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14 Cursed be the day I was born!(A)
    May the day my mother bore me not be blessed!
15 Cursed be the man who brought my father the news,
    who made him very glad, saying,
    “A child is born to you—a son!”
16 May that man be like the towns(B)
    the Lord overthrew without pity.
May he hear wailing(C) in the morning,
    a battle cry at noon.
17 For he did not kill me in the womb,(D)
    with my mother as my grave,
    her womb enlarged forever.
18 Why did I ever come out of the womb(E)
    to see trouble(F) and sorrow
    and to end my days in shame?(G)

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15 If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!”

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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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21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith.

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21 For to me, to live is Christ(A) and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart(B) and be with Christ,(C) which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,

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And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed.

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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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The people blamed Moses and said, “If only we had died in the Lord’s presence with our brothers!

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They quarreled(A) with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead(B) before the Lord!(C)

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15 Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.

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15 But I have not used any of these rights.(A) And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.(B)

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15 I would rather be strangled—
    rather die than suffer like this.
16 I hate my life and don’t want to go on living.
    Oh, leave me alone for my few remaining days.

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15 so that I prefer strangling and death,(A)
    rather than this body of mine.(B)
16 I despise my life;(C) I would not live forever.(D)
    Let me alone;(E) my days have no meaning.(F)

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“Oh, that I might have my request,
    that God would grant my desire.
I wish he would crush me.
    I wish he would reach out his hand and kill me.

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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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20 “Oh, why give light to those in misery,
    and life to those who are bitter?
21 They long for death, and it won’t come.
    They search for death more eagerly than for hidden treasure.

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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)

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