Job says God knows he has not done wrong
1Job said:
‘I hate my life. It makes me sick.
That is why I will complain
and say how sad I am.
2I will say to God:
“Don't accuse me and say I am guilty.
Please tell me why You want to judge me.
3Does it make You happy to oppress me?
You have made me, but You show
that You don't care for me.
No, You smile when You look
at the plans of people who are doing wrong.
4Do You have eyes like humans?
Do You look at things like people look at them?
5Is your life as short as the lives of humans?
Are your years as few
as those of people who die? No.
6Why do You look for something
that I have done wrong?
Why do you look to find sins in my life?
7Is it because You *know
that I am not guilty and yet no one
can save me from You?
8You have made me with your hands,
but now You want to destroy me. Why?
9Remember that You made me
like an image from clay.
Do You want me to die and change back into dust?
10You made me
inside my mother's womb
like someone pouring milk
when he makes cheese.
11You gave me skin and flesh,
and You sewed my bones and muscles together.
12You gave me life
and You showed me your love.
You cared for me and looked after me.
13But now I know what You planned to do.
You hid your plans.
14You were waiting for me to sin
and when You saw me doing wrong,
You would not have wanted to forgive me.
15If I had done something wrong,
You would have punished me
and if I were innocent,
You would not have said that I was righteous.
I am full of shame
because of all the trouble I have.
16When I feel strong, You hunt me
like a lion and You show me
that You are stronger than I am.
17Each time You bring
new witnesses against me,
You get more and more angry with me.
It is as if You are sending an army
to fight against me.
18Why did You decide to let me be born?
I wish that I had died
before anyone had seen me,
19then I would not have been here.
They should have carried me
to the grave immediately after I was born.”
20My life is very short,
and I will not live for a long time anymore.
I want God to leave me alone
so that I can be happy for a short while,
21before I go to the grave
and never come back
from the dark underworld,
22the place where it is always night
and very dark, and where you
can see no light, only darkness.’
