1 I am sick of life!

And from my deep despair,

I complain to you, my God.

2 Don't just condemn me!

Point out my sin.

3 Why do you take such delight

in destroying those you created

and in smiling on sinners?

4 Do you look at things

the way we humans do?

5 Is your life as short as ours?

6 Is that why you are so quick

to find fault with me?

7 * You know I am innocent,

but who can defend me

against you?

8 Will you now destroy

someone you created?

9 Remember that you molded me

like a piece of clay.

So don't turn me back

into dust once again.

10 * As cheese is made from milk,

you created my body

from a tiny drop.

11 Then you tied my bones together

with muscles and covered them

with flesh and skin.

12 You, the source of my life,

showered me with kindness

and watched over me.

13 You have not explained

all of your mysteries,

14 but you catch and punish me

each time I sin.

15 Guilty or innocent,

I am condemned and ashamed

because of my troubles.

16 No matter how hard I try,

you keep hunting me down

like a powerful lion.*

17 You never stop accusing me;

you become furious and attack

over and over again.

18 Why did you let me be born?

I would rather have died

before birth

19 and been carried to the grave

without ever breathing.

20 I have only a few days left.

Why don't you leave me alone?*

Let me find some relief,

* 21 before I travel to the land

22 of darkness and despair,

the place of no return.