1“I hate my own life, so I will complain freely. I am very bitter, so now I will speak.
2I will say to God, ‘Don’t just say I am guilty! Tell me what you have against me.
3Do you enjoy hurting me? Do you enjoy ignoring me while smiling at what evil people say?
4Do you have human eyes? Do you see things the way people do?
5Is your life as short as ours? Is your life as short as a man’s life?
6You look for my wrong and search for my sin.
7You know I am innocent, but no one can save me from your power!
8Your hands made me and shaped my body. But now they are closing around me and squeezing me to death!
9Remember, you molded me like clay. Will you turn me into clay again?
10You poured me out like milk. You spun me around and squeezed me like someone making cheese.
11You put me together with bones and muscles, and then you clothed me with skin and flesh.
12You gave me life and were very kind to me. You cared for me and watched over my spirit.
13But this is what you hid in your heart. Now I know what you were planning for me.
14If I sinned, you would be watching me so that you could punish me for doing wrong.
15If I sin, I am guilty and should be cursed. But even when I am innocent, I cannot lift up my head. I am so ashamed because of all the troubles I have.
16If I have any success and feel proud, you hunt me down like a lion and show your power over me.
17You bring witness after witness to prove that I am wrong. Again and again you show your anger as you send army after army against me.
18So why did you let me be born? I wish I had died before anyone saw me.
19I wish I had never lived. I wish they had carried me from my mother’s womb straight to the grave.
20My life is almost finished. So leave me alone! Let me enjoy the little time I have left.
21I am going soon to the land of no return, the place of death and darkness—
22that land of darkest night, of shadows and confusion, where even the light is darkness.’”