Job

The book of Job, chapter 10, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 10 New English Translation

An Appeal for Revelation

   1 "I am weary of my life; I will complain without restraint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
   2 I will say to God, 'Do not condemn me; tell me why you are contending with me.'
   3 Is it good for you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands, while you smile on the schemes of the wicked?

Motivations of God

   4 "Do you have eyes of flesh, or do you see as a human being sees?
   5 Are your days like the days of a mortal, or your years like the years of a mortal,
   6 that you must search out my iniquity, and inquire about my sin,
   7 although you know that I am not guilty, and that there is no one who can deliver out of your hand?

Contradictions in God's Dealings

   8 "Your hands have shaped me and made me, but now you destroy me completely.
   9 Remember that you have made me as with the clay; will you return me to dust?
   10 Did you not pour me out like milk, and curdle me like cheese?
   11 You clothed me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones and sinews.
   12 You gave me life and favor, and your intervention watched over my spirit.
   13 "But these things you have concealed in your heart; I know that this is with you:
   14 If I sinned, then you would watch me and you would not acquit me of my iniquity.
   15 If I am guilty, woe to me, and if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head; I am full of shame, and satiated with my affliction.
   16 If I lift myself up, you hunt me as a fierce lion, and again you display your power against me.
   17 You bring new witnesses against me, and increase your anger against me; relief troops come against me.

An Appeal for Relief

   18 "Why then did you bring me out from the womb? I should have died and no eye would have seen me!
   19 I should have been as though I had never existed; I should have been carried right from the womb to the grave!
   20 Are not my days few? Cease, then, and leave me alone, that I may find a little comfort,
   21 before I depart, never to return, to the land of darkness and the deepest shadow,
   22 to the land of utter darkness, like the deepest darkness, and the deepest shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness."

King James Version

   1 My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
   2 I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.
   3 Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?
   4 Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?
   5 Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man's days,
   6 That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?
   7 Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand.
   8 Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.
   9 Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?
   10 Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?
   11 Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews.
   12 Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.
   13 And these things hast thou hid in thine heart: I know that this is with thee.
   14 If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.
   15 If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;
   16 For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me.
   17 Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.
   18 Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!
   19 I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.
   20 Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,
   21 Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;
   22 A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.