1 “ Is not man forced to labor on earth, And are not his days like the days of a hired man?

2 “ As a slave who pants for the shade, And as a hired man who eagerly waits for his wages,

3 S o am I allotted months of vanity, And nights of trouble are appointed me.

4 “ When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I arise?’ But the night continues, And I am continually tossing until dawn.

5 “ My flesh is clothed with worms and a crust of dirt, My skin hardens and runs.

6 “ My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And come to an end without hope.

7 “ Remember that my life is but breath; My eye will not again see good.

8 “ The eye of him who sees me will behold me no longer; Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.

9 “ When a cloud vanishes, it is gone, So he who goes down to Sheol does not come up.

10 “ He will not return again to his house, Nor will his place know him anymore.

11 “ 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 “ Am I the sea, or the sea monster, That You set a guard over me?

13 “ If I say, ‘ My bed will comfort me, My couch will ease my complaint,’

14 T hen You frighten me with dreams And terrify me by visions;

15 S o that my soul would choose suffocation, Death rather than my pains.

16 “ I waste away; I will not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

17 “ What is man that You magnify him, And that You are concerned about him,

18 T hat You examine him every morning And try him every moment?

19 “ Will You never turn Your gaze away from me, Nor let me alone until I swallow my spittle?

20 “ Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself?

21 “ Why then do You not pardon my transgression And take away my iniquity? For now I will lie down in the dust; And You will seek me, but I will not be.”