38:10 “I thought, 1
‘In the middle of my life 2 I must walk through the gates of Sheol,
I am deprived 3 of the rest of my years.’
38:11 “I thought,
‘I will no longer see the Lord 4 in the land of the living,
I will no longer look on humankind with the inhabitants of the world. 5
38:12 My dwelling place 6 is removed and taken away 7 from me
like a shepherd’s tent.
I rolled up my life like a weaver rolls cloth; 8
from the loom he cuts me off. 9
You turn day into night and end my life. 10
38:13 I cry out 11 until morning;
like a lion he shatters all my bones;
you turn day into night and end my life. 12
38:14 Like a swallow or a thrush I chirp,
I coo 13 like a dove;
my eyes grow tired from looking up to the sky. 14
O sovereign master, 15 I am oppressed;
help me! 16
38:15 What can I say?
He has decreed and acted. 17
I will walk slowly all my years because I am overcome with grief. 18
38:16 O sovereign master, your decrees can give men life;
may years of life be restored to me. 19
Restore my health 20 and preserve my life.’
38:17 “Look, the grief I experienced was for my benefit. 21
You delivered me 22 from the pit of oblivion. 23
For you removed all my sins from your sight. 24
38:18 Indeed 25 Sheol does not give you thanks;
death does not 26 praise you.
Those who descend into the pit do not anticipate your faithfulness.
38:19 The living person, the living person, he gives you thanks,
as I do today.
A father tells his sons about your faithfulness.
38:20 The Lord is about to deliver me, 27
and we will celebrate with music 28
for the rest of our lives in the Lord’s temple.” 29