1 “ Is there not a time of hard service for man on earth? Are not his days also like the days of a hired man?

“Isn’t a man forced to labor on earth? Aren’t his days like the days of a hired hand?

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

As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling who looks for his wages,

3 S o I have been allotted months of futility, And wearisome nights have been appointed to me.

so am I made to possess months of misery, wearisome nights are appointed to me.

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

When I lie down, I say, ‘When shall I arise, and the night be gone?’ I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.

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

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.

6 “ My 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 O h, remember that my life is a breath! My eye will never again see good.

Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye shall no more see good.

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

The eye of him who sees me shall see me no more. Your eyes shall be on me, but I shall not be.

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

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

10 H e shall never return to his house, Nor shall his place know him anymore.

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

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 keep silent. 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 sea serpent, That You set a guard over me?

Am I a sea, or a sea monster, that you put a guard over me?

13 W hen I say, ‘My bed will comfort me, My couch will ease my complaint,’

When I say, ‘My bed shall comfort me. My couch shall ease my complaint;’

14 T hen You scare me with dreams And terrify me with visions,

then you scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions:

15 S o that my soul chooses strangling And death rather than my body.

so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than my bones.

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

I loathe my life. I don’t want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

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

What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,

18 T hat You should visit him every morning, And test him every moment?

that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?

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

How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?

20 H ave 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?

If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself?

21 W hy 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. ”

Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I shall not be.”