1 H ath not man a life of labour upon earth? and are not his days like the days of a hireling?

2 A s a bondman earnestly desireth the shadow, and a hireling expecteth his wages,

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

4 I f I lie down, I say, When shall I rise up, and the darkness be gone? and I am full of tossings until the dawn.

5 M y flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and suppurates.

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

7 R emember thou that my life is wind; mine eye shall no more see good.

8 T he eye of him that hath seen me shall behold me no: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.

9 T he cloud consumeth and vanisheth away; so he that goeth down to Sheol shall not come up.

10 H e shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him again.

11 T herefore I will not restrain 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, death, rather than my bones.

16 I loathe it; I shall not live always: let me alone, for my days are a breath.

17 W hat is man, that thou makest much of him? and that thou settest thy heart upon him?

18 A nd that thou visitest him every morning, triest 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 H ave I sinned, what do I unto thee, thou Observer of men? Why hast thou set me as an object of assault for thee, so that I am become a burden to myself?

21 A nd why dost not thou forgive my transgression and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I lie down in the dust, and thou shalt seek me early, and I shall not be.