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

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.

¹ A good name is better than oil of great price, and the day of death than the day of birth.

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.

⁸ If only I might have an answer to my prayer, and God would give me my desire!

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!

²¹ For to me life is Christ and death is profit.

²² But if I go on living in the flesh--if this is the fruit of my work--then I do not see what decision to make.

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;

¹⁵ But I have not made use of any of these things: and I am not writing this in the hope that it may be so for me: for it would be better for me to undergo death, than for any man to make this pride of mine of no effect.

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.

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?

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;

³ And the people were angry with Moses and said, If only death had overtaken us when our brothers came to their death before the Lord!

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.