Job’s Plea to God

1My soul was weary in my life; I shall leave upon me my complaint; I shall speak in the bitterness of my soul.

2Saying to God, Thou wilt not condemn me; make known to me for what thou wilt contend with me.

3Is it good to thee that thou wilt oppress, that thou wilt despise the labor of thy hinds, and thou didst shine upon the counsels of the unjust?

4Were eyes of flesh to thee? or wilt thou see as man saw?

5Are thy days as man's days? or thy years as the days of man?

6That thou wilt seek for mine iniquity, and wilt search out for my sins?

7Upon thy knowledge that I will not do evil; and none delivering from thy hand.

8Thy hands formed me, and they will work me together round about; and thou wilt swallow me down.

9Remember now, thou didst make me as day; and thou wilt turn me back to dust.

10Wilt thou not weigh me out as milk, and coagulate me as cheese?

11Thou wilt clothe me with skin and flesh, and thou wilt hedge me with bones and sinews.

12Thou didst with me life and mercy, and thy reviewing watched my spirit.

13And these thou didst hide in thy heart: I knew that this is with thee.

14If I sinned; and thou didst watch me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.

15If I did evil, wo to me; and was I just, I shall not lift up my head, being filled with dishonor: and see thou mine affliction;

16And shall it be lifted up? Thou wilt hunt me as the lion, and thou wilt turn back, thou wilt show thyself wonderful upon me.

17Thou wilt renew thy testimonies before me, and thou wilt increase thy wrath upon me; changes and war with me.

18And wherefore didst thou bring Me forth from the belly? I shall expire, and eye shall not see me.

19I shall be as I was not; I shall be brought from the womb to the grave.

20Is it not my days few? He will cease; he will turn from me, and I shall be cheerful a little,

21Before I shall go and turn back to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;

22A land of darkness, as thick darkness; of the shadow of death, and not orders, and the brightness, as thick darkness.