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

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.

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

¹⁰ And with grief in her soul, weeping bitterly, she made her prayer to the Lord.

⁶ Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:

²⁷ And when she came to where the man of God was on the hill, she put her hands round his feet; and Gehazi came near with the purpose of pushing her away; but the man of God said, Let her be, for her soul is bitter in her; and the Lord has kept it secret from me, and has not given me word of it.

¹⁶ Or as a child dead at birth I might never have come into existence; like young children who have not seen the light.

⁹ If only he would be pleased to put an end to me; and would let loose his hand, so that I might be cut off!

²⁸ He kept my soul from the underworld, and my life sees the light in full measure.

³⁰ Keeping back his soul from the underworld, so that he may see the light of life.