Job’s Despondency

16 “And now my soul pours itself out within me;

days of suffering take hold of me.

17 Night pierces my bones;

my gnawing pains never cease.

18 With great power God grasps my clothing;

he binds me like the collar of my tunic.

19 He has flung me into the mud,

and I have come to resemble dust and ashes.

20 I cry out to you, but you do not answer me;

I stand up, and you only look at me.

21 You have become cruel to me;

with the strength of your hand you attack me.

22 You pick me up on the wind and make me ride on it;

you toss me about in the storm.

23 I know that you are bringing me to death,

to the meeting place for all the living.