1 ¶ Man certainly has an appointed amount of time upon earth, and his days are like the days of a hireling.

2 A s a slave earnestly desires the shade and as a hireling waits for rest from his work,

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

4 W hen I lie down, I say, When shall I arise? I measure the night, 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 is broken and abominable.

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

7 ¶ Remember thou that my life is wind and that my eyes shall not return to see good.

8 T he eyes of those that see me now shall not see me again; thine eyes shall be upon me, and I will cease to be.

9 A s the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he that goes down to Sheol, who shall not come up again;

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 dragon, 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 dost scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions.

15 A nd my soul thought it better to be strangled and desired death more than my bones.

16 I loathed life; I do not desire to live for ever; let me alone; for my days are vanity.

17 ¶ What is man that thou should magnify him and that thou should set thine heart upon him

18 a nd that thou should visit him every morning and try him every moment?

19 F or how long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone until I swallow down my spittle?

20 I f 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?

21 A nd why dost thou not take away my rebellion and pass over my iniquity? For now I shall sleep in the dust; and if thou shalt seek me in the morning, I shall not be found.