Daily Bread

² “If only my anguish could be weighed
    and all my misery be placed on the scales!^(A)
3 It would surely outweigh the sand^(B) of the seas—
    no wonder my words have been impetuous.^(C)
4 The arrows^(D) of the Almighty^(E) are in me,^(F)
    my spirit drinks^(G) in their poison;^(H)
    God’s terrors^(I) are marshaled against me.^(J)
5 Does a wild donkey^(K) bray^(L) when it has grass,
    or an ox bellow when it has fodder?^(M)
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
    or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow^[a]?^(N)
7 I refuse to touch it;
    such food makes me ill.^(O)

⁸ “Oh, that I might have my request,
    that God would grant what I hope for,^(P)
9 that God would be willing to crush^(Q) me,
    to let loose his hand and cut off my life!^(R)
10 Then I would still have this consolation^(S)—
    my joy in unrelenting pain^(T)—
    that I had not denied the words^(U) of the Holy One.^(V)

¹¹ “What strength do I have, that I should still hope?
    What prospects, that I should be patient?^(W)
12 Do I have the strength of stone?
    Is my flesh bronze?^(X)
13 Do I have any power to help myself,^(Y)
    now that success has been driven from me?

¹⁴ “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend^(Z)
    forsakes the fear of the Almighty.^(AA)
15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,^(AB)
    as the streams that overflow
¹⁶ when darkened by thawing ice
    and swollen with melting snow,^(AC)
17 but that stop flowing in the dry season,
    and in the heat^(AD) vanish from their channels.
¹⁸ Caravans turn aside from their routes;
    they go off into the wasteland and perish.
¹⁹ The caravans of Tema^(AE) look for water,
    the traveling merchants of Sheba^(AF) look in hope.
²⁰ They are distressed, because they had been confident;
    they arrive there, only to be disappointed.^(AG)
21 Now you too have proved to be of no help;
    you see something dreadful and are afraid.^(AH)
22 Have I ever said, ‘Give something on my behalf,
    pay a ransom^(AI) for me from your wealth,^(AJ)
23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy,
    rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless’?^(AK)

²⁴ “Teach me, and I will be quiet;^(AL)
    show me where I have been wrong.^(AM)
25 How painful are honest words!^(AN)
    But what do your arguments prove?
²⁶ Do you mean to correct what I say,
    and treat my desperate words as wind?^(AO)
27 You would even cast lots^(AP) for the fatherless^(AQ)
    and barter away your friend.

²⁸ “But now be so kind as to look at me.
    Would I lie to your face?^(AR)
29 Relent, do not be unjust;^(AS)
    reconsider, for my integrity^(AT) is at stake.^[b](AU)
30 Is there any wickedness on my lips?^(AV)
    Can my mouth not discern^(AW) malice?

7 “Do not mortals have hard service^(AX) on earth?^(AY)
    Are not their days like those of hired laborers?^(AZ)
2 Like a slave longing for the evening shadows,^(BA)
    or a hired laborer waiting to be paid,^(BB)
3 so I have been allotted months of futility,
    and nights of misery have been assigned to me.^(BC)
4 When I lie down I think, ‘How long before I get up?’^(BD)
    The night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.^(BE)
5 My body is clothed with worms^(BF) and scabs,
    my skin is broken and festering.^(BG)

⁶ “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,^(BH)
    and they come to an end without hope.^(BI)
7 Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath;^(BJ)
    my eyes will never see happiness again.^(BK)
8 The eye that now sees me will see me no longer;
    you will look for me, but I will be no more.^(BL)
9 As a cloud vanishes^(BM) and is gone,
    so one who goes down to the grave^(BN) does not return.^(BO)
10 He will never come to his house again;
    his place^(BP) will know him no more.^(BQ)

¹¹ “Therefore I will not keep silent;^(BR)
    I will speak out in the anguish^(BS) of my spirit,
    I will complain^(BT) in the bitterness of my soul.^(BU)
12 Am I the sea,^(BV) or the monster of the deep,^(BW)
    that you put me under guard?^(BX)
13 When I think my bed will comfort me
    and my couch will ease my complaint,^(BY)
14 even then you frighten me with dreams
    and terrify^(BZ) me with visions,^(CA)
15 so that I prefer strangling and death,^(CB)
    rather than this body of mine.^(CC)
16 I despise my life;^(CD) I would not live forever.^(CE)
    Let me alone;^(CF) my days have no meaning.^(CG)

¹⁷ “What is mankind that you make so much of them,
    that you give them so much attention,^(CH)
18 that you examine them every morning^(CI)
    and test them^(CJ) every moment?^(CK)
19 Will you never look away from me,^(CL)
    or let me alone even for an instant?^(CM)
20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you,^(CN)
    you who see everything we do?
Why have you made me your target?^(CO)
    Have I become a burden to you?^[c](CP)
21 Why do you not pardon my offenses
    and forgive my sins?^(CQ)
For I will soon lie down in the dust;^(CR)
    you will search for me, but I will be no more.”^(CS)