O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,

Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,

How painful are honest words! But what does your reproof prove?

It is higher than the heavens – what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol – what can you know?

But you say, ‘What will it profit you,’ and, ‘What do I gain by not sinning?’

How will he severely punish you, you deceptive talker?

How difficult it is for me to fathom your thoughts about me, O God! How vast is their sum total!

How beautiful you are! How lovely, O love, with your delights!

Danger awaits one who says to his father, “What in the world are you fathering?” and to his mother, “What in the world are you bringing forth?”

“My people, how have I wronged you? How have I wearied you? Answer me!

He said, “You stole my gods that I made, as well as this priest, and then went away. What do I have left? How can you have the audacity to say to me, ‘What do you want?’”

He went on to say, “Why is my lord chasing his servant? What have I done? What wrong have I done?

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why is your expression downcast?

How can I curse one whom God has not cursed, or how can I denounce one whom the Lord has not denounced?

Jonathan responded to his father Saul, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?”

What is my strength, that I should wait? and what is my end, that I should prolong my life?

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain if we were to pray to him?’

How then can a human being be righteous before God? How can one born of a woman be pure?

then what will I do when God confronts me in judgment; when he intervenes, how will I respond to him?

If you sin, how does it affect God? If your transgressions are many, what does it do to him?