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

Is there not a warfare 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 that earnestly desireth the shadow, And as a hireling that looketh for his wages:

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

So 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? 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 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.

My 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.

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 a breath: Mine eye shall no more 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.

The 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 vanishes away, so he that goes down to Sheol, who shall not come up again;

As 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.

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 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?

Am 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;

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 thou scarest me with dreams, And terrifiest me through visions:

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

So that my soul chooseth 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 alway: 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

What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him, And that thou shouldest set thy mind upon him,

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

And that thou shouldest 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 wilt thou not look away from me, Nor let me alone till 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?

If 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 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 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.