I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?
I have sinned (I grant): yet what sin can I do against (to hurt, Job 35:6) thee of such a nature that thou shouldest jealously watch and deprive me of all strength, as if thou didst fear me! Yet thou art one who hast men ever in view, ever watchest them, so as to be able to frustrate any attack on their part (Umbreit).
O thou Watcher (Job 7:12; Daniel 9:14 - " The Lord hath watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us") not as the English version, "Preserver (Gesenius) of men." Job had borne with patience his trials, as sent by God (Job 1:21; Job 2:10); only his reason cannot reconcile the ceaseless continuance of his mental and bodily pains with his ideas of the divine nature.
Set me as a mark - Wherefore dost thou make me thy point of attack? - i:e., ever assail me with new pains. The image is taken from war, where the foe directs his attack against some principles point (Job 16:12) - 'He hath set me up for His mark' (Umbreit). (Lamentations 3:12.)