¹⁷ So I was hating life, because everything under the sun was evil to me: all is to no purpose and desire for wind.

¹¹ Then I saw all the works which my hands had made, and everything I had been working to do; and I saw that all was to no purpose and desire for wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

²³ I am in a hard position between the two, having a desire to go away and be with Christ, which is very much better:

²⁴ Still, to go on in the flesh is more necessary because of you.

²⁵ And being certain of this, I am conscious that I will go on, yes, and go on with you all, for your growth and joy in the faith;

³ Why do you make me see evil-doing, and why are my eyes fixed on wrong? for wasting and violent acts are before me: and there is fighting and bitter argument.

⁸ Then when the sun came up, God sent a burning east wind: and so great was the heat of the sun on his head that Jonah was overcome, and, requesting death for himself, said, Death is better for me than life.

³ So now, O Lord, give ear to my prayer and take my life from me; for death is better for me than life.

¹⁴ And the wind, lifting me up, took me away: and I went in the heat of my spirit, and the hand of the Lord was strong on me.

¹⁴ A curse on the day of my birth: let there be no blessing on the day when my mother had me.

¹⁵ A curse on the man who gave the news to my father, saying, You have a male child; making him very glad.

¹⁶ May that man be like the towns overturned by the Lord without mercy: let a cry for help come to his ears in the morning, and the sound of war in the middle of the day;

¹⁷ Because he did not put me to death before my birth took place: so my mother's body would have been my last resting-place, and she would have been with child for ever.

¹⁸ Why did I come from my mother's body to see pain and sorrow, so that my days might be wasted with shame?

⁹ What the eyes see is better than the wandering of desire. This is to no purpose and a desire for wind.

² So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life.

¹⁶ And again, I saw under the sun, in the place of the judges, that evil was there; and in the place of righteousness, that evil was there.

²² What does a man get for all his work, and for the weight of care with which he has done his work under the sun?

¹⁴ I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; all is to no purpose, and desire for wind.

⁴⁷ See how short my time is; why have you made all men for no purpose?

¹³ If only you would keep me safe in the underworld, putting me in a secret place till your wrath is past, giving me a fixed time when I might come to your memory again!

¹⁵ So that a hard death seems better to my soul than my pains.

¹⁶ I have no desire for life, I would not be living for ever! Keep away from me, for my days are as a breath.

²⁰ Why does he give light to him who is in trouble, and life to the bitter in soul;

²¹ To those whose desire is for death, but it comes not; who are searching for it more than for secret wealth;

²² Who are glad with great joy, and full of delight when they come to their last resting-place;

⁴ While he himself went a day's journey into the waste land, and took a seat under a broom-plant, desiring for himself only death; for he said, It is enough: now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.

¹⁵ If this is to be my fate, put me to death now in answer to my prayer, if I have grace in your eyes; and let me not see my shame.