New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
1"I loathe my very life; therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul. | 1“I loathe my own life; I will express my complaint and speak in the bitterness of my soul. |
2I say to God: Do not declare me guilty, but tell me what charges you have against me. | 2I will say to God: Do not condemn me! Let me know why You prosecute me. |
3Does it please you to oppress me, to spurn the work of your hands, while you smile on the plans of the wicked? | 3Does it please You to oppress me, to reject the work of Your hands and favor the schemes of the wicked? |
4Do you have eyes of flesh? Do you see as a mortal sees? | 4Do You have eyes of flesh? Do You see as man sees? |
5Are your days like those of a mortal or your years like those of a strong man, | 5Are Your days like those of a mortal, or Your years like those of a man, |
6that you must search out my faults and probe after my sin-- | 6that You should seek my iniquity and search out my sin— |
7though you know that I am not guilty and that no one can rescue me from your hand? | 7though You know that I am not guilty, and there is no deliverance from Your hand? |
8"Your hands shaped me and made me. Will you now turn and destroy me? | 8Your hands shaped me and altogether formed me. Would You now turn and destroy me? |
9Remember that you molded me like clay. Will you now turn me to dust again? | 9Please remember that You molded me like clay. Would You now return me to dust? |
10Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese, | 10Did You not pour me out like milk, and curdle me like cheese? |
11clothe me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones and sinews? | 11You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. |
12You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit. | 12You have granted me life and loving devotion, and Your care has preserved my spirit. |
13"But this is what you concealed in your heart, and I know that this was in your mind: | 13Yet You concealed these things in Your heart, and I know that this was in Your mind: |
14If I sinned, you would be watching me and would not let my offense go unpunished. | 14If I sinned, You would take note, and would not acquit me of my iniquity. |
15If I am guilty--woe to me! Even if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head, for I am full of shame and drowned in my affliction. | 15If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction. |
16If I hold my head high, you stalk me like a lion and again display your awesome power against me. | 16Should I hold my head high, You would hunt me like a lion, and again display Your power against me. |
17You bring new witnesses against me and increase your anger toward me; your forces come against me wave upon wave. | 17You produce new witnesses against me and multiply Your anger toward me. Hardships assault me in wave after wave. |
18"Why then did you bring me out of the womb? I wish I had died before any eye saw me. | 18Why then did You bring me from the womb? Oh, that I had died, and no eye had seen me! |
19If only I had never come into being, or had been carried straight from the womb to the grave! | 19If only I had never come to be, but had been carried from the womb to the grave. |
20Are not my few days almost over? Turn away from me so I can have a moment's joy | 20Are my days not few? Withdraw from me, that I may have a little comfort, |
21before I go to the place of no return, to the land of gloom and utter darkness, | 21before I go—never to return—to a land of darkness and gloom, |
22to the land of deepest night, of utter darkness and disorder, where even the light is like darkness." | 22to a land of utter darkness, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.” |
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