“ My complaint is with God, not with people. I have good reason to be so impatient.

我岂是向人诉冤？为何不焦急呢？

我岂是向人诉苦？我为何不是没有耐心呢？

我岂是向人诉苦？我为何不是没有耐心呢？

我岂是向人抱怨？我有理由不耐烦。

我岂是抱怨的人呢？我的心为什么不能忍耐呢？

我豈是向人訴冤？為何不焦急呢？

我豈是向人訴苦？我為何不是沒有耐心呢？

我豈是向人訴苦？我為何不是沒有耐心呢？

我豈是向人抱怨？我有理由不耐煩。

我豈是抱怨的人呢？我的心為甚麼不能忍耐呢？

論到我、我的哀怨哪是對人而發呢？我的心怎能不着急呢？

我訴冤抑、豈向人乎、何為不焦急乎、

我不尤人、第中心自憤懣、有何不可。

我豈向人辯論、辯論或作訴冤我豈能不焦急、

“ Is my complaint directed to a human being? Why should I not be impatient?

“ I’m not arguing with mere human beings. So why shouldn’t I be angry and uneasy?

As for me, is my complaint against man? Why should I not be impatient?

As for me, is my complaint against a human being? Then why shouldn’t I be impatient?

As for me, is my complaint to a mortal? Or why should I not be impatient?

“ As for me, is my complaint against man? And if it were, why should I not be impatient?

As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?

As for me, is my complaint against a man? Then why shouldn’t I be impatient?

As for me,[ is] my complaint to man? and if[ it were so], why should not my spirit be troubled?

Is my complaint against a man? If so, why should I not be impatient?

As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?

Lord, hear my prayer! Listen to my plea!

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!

I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles.When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me.

But I don’t have the strength to endure. I have nothing to live for.

I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. InterludeYou don’t let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray!I think of the good old days, long since ended,when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and ponder the difference now.Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will he never again be kind to me?Is his unfailing love gone forever? Have his promises permanently failed?Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he slammed the door on his compassion? Interlude

One day as the king of Israel was walking along the wall of the city, a woman called to him,“ Please help me, my lord the king!”He answered,“ If the Lord doesn’t help you, what can I do? I have neither food from the threshing floor nor wine from the press to give you.”

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.”

“ I am disgusted with my life. Let me complain freely. My bitter soul must complain.I will say to God,‘ Don’t simply condemn me— tell me the charge you are bringing against me.

“ I cannot keep from speaking. I must express my anguish. My bitter soul must complain.Am I a sea monster or a dragon that you must place me under guard?I think,‘ My bed will comfort me, and sleep will ease my misery,’but then you shatter me with dreams and terrify me with visions.I would rather be strangled— rather die than suffer like this.I hate my life and don’t want to go on living. Oh, leave me alone for my few remaining days.“ What are people, that you should make so much of us, that you should think of us so often?For you examine us every morning and test us every moment.Why won’t you leave me alone, at least long enough for me to swallow!If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of all humanity? Why make me your target? Am I a burden to you?Why not just forgive my sin and take away my guilt? For soon I will lie down in the dust and die. When you look for me, I will be gone.”

So Moses told the people of Israel what the Lord had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.

He told them,“ My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”