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

Hath not man a life of labour 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 bondman earnestly desireth the shadow, and a hireling expecteth 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 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.

If 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 abominable.

My 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.

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.

Remember thou that my life is wind; 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 hath seen me shall behold me no: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.

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

The 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 any more.

He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him again.

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 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, death, rather than my bones.

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

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

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

What is man, that thou makest much of him? and that thou settest thy heart upon him?

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

And that thou visitest him every morning, triest 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?

Have 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 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 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.