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

“ Is there not a time of hard service for man on earth? Are not his days also 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,

Like a servant who earnestly desires the shade, And like a hired man who eagerly looks for his wages,

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

So I have been allotted months of futility, And wearisome nights have been appointed to me.

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

When I lie down, I say, ‘When shall I arise, And the night be ended?’ For I have had my fill of tossing till dawn.

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

My flesh is caked with worms and dust, My skin is cracked and breaks out afresh.

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

“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And are spent without hope.

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

Oh, remember that my life is a breath! My eye will never 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.

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

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

As the cloud disappears and vanishes away, So he who goes down to the grave does not come up.

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

He shall never return to his house, Nor shall 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.

“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?

Am I a sea, or a sea serpent, That You set a guard over me?

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

When 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;

Then You scare me with dreams And terrify me with visions,

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

So that my soul chooses strangling And death rather than my body.

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

I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone, For my days are but a breath.

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

“What is man, that You should exalt him, That You should set Your heart on him,

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

That You should visit him every morning, And test him every moment?

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

How long? Will You not look away from me, And let me alone till I swallow my saliva?

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?

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.”

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 diligently, But I will no longer be. ”