I have sinned; what shall I do unto you, O you preserver of men? why have you set me as a mark against you, so that I am a burden to myself?
You, even you, are LORD alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and you preserve them all; and the host of heaven worships you.
If I sin, then you mark me, and you will not acquit me from my iniquity.
I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; show me why you contend with me.
That you inquire after my iniquity, and search after my sin?
For you write bitter things against me, and make me possess the iniquities of my youth.
For now you number my steps: do not watch over my sin.
Is not your wickedness great? and your iniquities without end?
For my sighing comes before I eat, and my groanings are poured out like the waters.
If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom:
He looks upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
For you said, What advantage will it be unto you? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?
If you sin, what do you accomplish against him? or if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do unto him?
For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison thereof drinks up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
Therefore shall you make them turn their back, when you shall make ready your arrows upon your strings toward their face.
Your righteousness is like the great mountains; your judgments are a great deep: O LORD, you preserve man and beast.
O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry against the prayer of your people?
He has bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.