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

Is there not an warfare and hard labor to man upon earth? And are not his days 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,

As a servant earnestly longs for the shade and the evening shadows, and as a hireling who looks for the reward of his work,

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

So am I allotted months of futile, and nights of misery 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.

When I lie down I say, When shall I arise and the night be gone? And I am full of tossing to and fro till the dawning of the day.

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

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken and has become loathsome, and it closes up and breaks out afresh.

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

My 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.

Oh, remember that my life is but wind (a puff, a breath, a sob); my eye shall see good no more.

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.

The eye of him who sees me shall see me no more; while your eyes are upon me, I shall be gone.

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

As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol (the place of the dead) shall come up no more.

10 h e shall return no more to his house; neither shall his place know him any more.

He 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.

Therefore 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 dragon, that thou settest a watch over me?

Am I the sea, or the sea monster, that You set a watch over me?

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

When 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.

Then You scare me with dreams and terrify me through visions,

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

So that I would choose strangling and death rather than these my bones.

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

I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone, for my days are a breath (futility).

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

What is man that You should magnify him and think him important? And that You should set Your mind upon him?

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

And that You 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?

How long will Your glance not look away from me, nor You let me alone till I swallow 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?

If I have sinned, what have I done You, O You Watcher and Keeper of men? Why have You set me as a mark for You, 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.

And why do You not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust; and You will seek me diligently, I shall not be.