1. "I hate my life, so I will complain without holding back; I will speak because I am so unhappy.
2. I will say to God: Do not hold me guilty, but tell me what you have against me.
3. Does it make you happy to trouble me? Don't you care about me, the work of your hands? Are you happy with the plans of evil people?
4. Do you have human eyes that see as we see?
5. Are your days like the days of humans, and your years like our years?
6. You look for the evil I have done and search for my sin.
7. You know I am not guilty, but no one can save me from your power.
8. "Your hands shaped and made me. Do you now turn around and destroy me?
9. Remember that you molded me like a piece of clay. Will you now turn me back into dust?
10. You formed me inside my mother like cheese formed from milk.
11. You dressed me with skin and flesh; you sewed me together with bones and muscles.
12. You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your care you watched over my life.
13. "But in your heart you hid other plans. I know this was in your mind.
14. If I sinned, you would watch me and would not let my sin go unpunished.
15. How terrible it will be for me if I am guilty! Even if I am right, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and experience only pain.
16. If I hold up my head, you hunt me like a lion and again show your terrible power against me.
17. You bring new witnesses against me and increase your anger against me. Your armies come against me.
18. "So why did you allow me to be born? I wish I had died before anyone saw me.
19. I wish I had never lived, but had been carried straight from birth to the grave.
20. The few days of my life are almost over. Leave me alone so I can have a moment of joy.
21. Soon I will leave; I will not return from the land of darkness and gloom,
22. the land of darkest night, from the land of gloom and confusion, where even the light is darkness."