“Why did I not die at birth, Come out of the womb and pass away?

Why were the knees there in front of me, And why the breasts, that I would nurse?

“Why is light given to one burdened with grief, And life to the bitter of soul,

Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has shut off?

Have I sinned? What have I done to You, Watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, So that I am a burden to myself?

Why then do You not forgive my wrongdoing And take away my guilt? For now I will lie down in the dust; And You will search for me, but I will no longer exist.”

I am guilty, Why then should I struggle in vain?

I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me; Let me know why You contend with me.

‘Why then did You bring me out of the womb? If only I had died and no eye had seen me!

Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands?

Why do You hide Your face And consider me Your enemy?

Why does your heart take you away? And why do your eyes wink,

Why are we regarded as animals, As stupid in your eyes?

Why do you persecute me as God does, And are not satisfied with my flesh?

As for me, is my complaint to a mortal? Or why should I not be impatient?

Why do the wicked still live, Grow old, and also become very powerful?

Job Says God Seems to Ignore Wrongs

“Why are times not stored up by the Almighty, And why do those who know Him not see His days?

Behold, all of you have seen it; Why then do you talk of nothing?

“Why do you complain to Him That He does not give an account of all His doings?

The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed.

Why are the nations restless And the peoples plotting in vain?

A Prayer for the Overthrow of the Wicked.

Why do You stand far away, Lord? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?

Why has the wicked treated God disrespectfully? He has said to himself, “You will not require an account.”

A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise.

For the music director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David.

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my help are the words of my groaning.

Why are you in despair, my soul? And why are you restless within me? Wait for God, for I will again praise Him For the help of His presence, my God.

I will say to God my rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”

Why are you in despair, my soul? And why are you restless within me? Wait for God, for I will again praise Him For the help of His presence, my God.

For You are the God of my strength; why have You rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

Why are you in despair, my soul? And why are you restless within me? Wait for God, for I will again praise Him For the help of His presence, my God.

Wake Yourself up, why do You sleep, Lord? Awake, do not reject us forever.

Why do You hide Your face And forget our affliction and oppression?

Why should I fear in days of adversity, When the injustice of those who betray me surrounds me,

Futility of Boastful Wickedness.

For the music director. A Maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul and said to him, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.”

Why do you boast in evil, you mighty man? The faithfulness of God endures all day long.

Why do you look with envy, you mountains of many peaks, At the mountain God has desired as His dwelling? Indeed, the Lord will dwell there forever.

An Appeal against the Devastation of the Land by the Enemy.

A Maskil of Asaph.

God, why have You rejected us forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?

Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Extend it from Your chest and destroy them!

Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let vengeance for the blood of Your servants which has been shed Be known among the nations in our sight.

Why have You broken down its hedges, So that all who pass that way pick its fruit?

Lord, why do You reject my soul? Why do You hide Your face from me?

Why should the nations say, “Where, then, is their God?”