1 I s there not a warfare to man upon earth? And are not his days like the days of a hireling?

2 A s a servant that earnestly desireth the shadow, And as a hireling that looketh for his wages:

3 S o am I made to possess months of misery, And wearisome nights are appointed to me.

4 W hen I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? And I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

5 M y flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; My skin closeth up, and breaketh out afresh.

6 M y days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, And are spent without hope.

7 O h remember that my life is a breath: Mine eye shall no more see good.

8 T he eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; Thine eyes shall be upon me, but I shall not be.

9 A s the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, So he that goeth down to Sheol shall come up no more.

10 H e shall return no more to his house, Neither shall his place know him any more.

11 T herefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

12 A m I a sea, or a sea-monster, That thou settest a watch over me?

13 W hen I say, My bed shall comfort me, My couch shall ease my complaint;

14 T hen thou scarest me with dreams, And terrifiest me through visions:

15 S o that my soul chooseth strangling, And death rather than these my bones.

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

17 W hat is man, that thou shouldest magnify him, And that thou shouldest set thy mind upon him,

18 A nd that thou shouldest visit him every morning, And try him every moment?

19 H ow long wilt thou not look away from me, Nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

20 I f I have sinned, what do I unto thee, O thou watcher of men? Why hast thou set me as a mark for thee, So that I am a burden to myself?

21 A nd why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust; And thou wilt seek me diligently, but I shall not be.