¹⁷ Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

¹¹ Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

²³ For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

²⁴ Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

²⁵ And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

³ Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.

⁸ And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.

³ Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.

¹⁴ So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.

¹⁴ Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.

¹⁵ Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad.

¹⁶ And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;

¹⁷ Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me.

¹⁸ Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?

⁹ Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

² Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

¹⁶ And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

²² For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

⁴⁷ Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?

¹³ O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

¹⁵ So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.

¹⁶ I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.

²⁰ Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;

²¹ Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;

²² Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?

⁴ But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

¹⁵ And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favor in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.