from last week's er ("the book of abby") and from the old testament ("the book of job"):why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure, who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave? for sighing comes to me instead of food; my groans pour out like water. what i feared has come upon me; what i dreaded has happened to me. i have no peace, no quietness; i have no rest, but only turmoil.i'm not sure where to go from here.

have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? have the gates of death been shown to you? what is the way to the abode of light? and where does darkness reside? have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? tell me, if you know all this.