1My soul (nephesh) loathes my life (chai); I will let loose my complaint upon myself, I will speak in the bitterness of my soul (nephesh).
2I will say to Eloah, Do not condemn me; make me know why you contend with me.
3Is it good to you that you should oppress, that you should despise the labor of your hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?
4Have you eyes of flesh (basar)? Or do you see as man sees?
5Are your days as the days of man, or your years as the days of a strong man,
6that you seek for my iniquity, and search after my sin,
7upon your knowledge that I am not wicked; and there is none delivering out of your hand.
8Your hands shaped me and made me, together round about; and you swallow me up.
9Remember, please, that as the clay you made me, and to dust (aphar) you will return me.
10Have you not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?
11With skin and flesh (basar) you clothed me, and with bones and sinews you knit me together.
12Life (chai) and lovingkindness you have made with me, and your providence has kept my spirit (ruach).
13And these things you hid in your heart; I know that this is with you:
14if I sin, then you watch me, and from my iniquity you will not acquit me.
15If I am wicked, woe to me; and if I am righteous, I will not lift up my head — filled with shame and looking on my affliction.
16And it rises up; as a lion you hunt me, and again you show yourself wondrous against me.
17You renew your witnesses against me, and increase your vexation with me; changes and a host are with me.
18And why did you bring me forth from the womb? I would have expired, and no eye had seen me.
19As though I had not been, I would be; from the belly to the grave I would be carried.
20Are not my days few? Cease, and set yourself away from me, that I may brighten up a little,
21before I go — and I shall not return — to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;
22a land of gloom, as thick darkness, the shadow of death and without order, and it shines as thick darkness.