Part 17 (1/2)

Lx.x.xIII

Thine hand hath made and fas.h.i.+oned me, And now hast thou turned to destroy me; Remember, I pray thee, that thou hast formed me as clay; And now wilt thou grind me to dust again?

Lx.x.xIV

Didst thou not pour me out as milk, And curdle me like cheese?

Hast thou not clothed me with skin and flesh?

And knitted me with bones and sinews?

Lx.x.xV

Thou enduedst me with life and grace; And thy care hath cherished my spirit.

And yet these things hadst thou hid in thy heart!

I know that this was in thee!

Lx.x.xVI

Had I sinned, thou wouldst have watched me, Nor wouldst have acquitted me of my wrongdoing.

Had I been wicked, woe unto me!

And though righteous, I dare not to lift up my head.

Lx.x.xVII

As a lion thou huntest me, who am soaked in misery, And ever showest thyself marvellous[211] against me!

While I live, thou smitest me ever anew, And lettest thy wrath wax great against me.

Lx.x.xVIII

Wherefore, then, didst thou bring me out of the womb?

Would I had then given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!

I should now be as though I had never been; I had been borne from the womb to the grave.

Lx.x.xIX

Are not the days of my life but few, So that he might let me be, while I take heart a little Before I depart whence I shall not return, To the land of darkness and of gloom?

XC

ZOPHAR:

Shall the mult.i.tude of words be left unanswered?

And shall the prattler[212] be deemed in the right?

Should men hold their peace at thy babbling?

And when thou jeerest, shall none make thee ashamed?

XCI