1 I s there not a warfare to man on earth? And as the days of an hireling his days?

2 A s a servant desireth the shadow, And as a hireling expecteth his wage,

3 S o I have been caused to inherit months of vanity, And nights of misery they numbered to me.

4 I f I lay down then I said, `When do I rise!' And evening hath been measured, And I have been full of tossings till dawn.

5 C lothed hath been my flesh worms, And a clod of dust, My skin hath been shrivelled and is loathsome,

6 M y days swifter than a weaving machine, And they are consumed without hope.

7 R emember Thou that my life a breath, Mine eye turneth not back to see good.

8 T he eye of my beholder beholdeth me not. Thine eyes upon me -- and I am not.

9 C onsumed hath been a cloud, and it goeth, So he who is going down to Sheol cometh not up.

10 H e turneth not again to his house, Nor doth his place discern him again.

11 A lso I -- I withhold not my mouth -- I speak in the distress of my spirit, I talk in the bitterness of my soul.

12 A sea- am I, or a dragon, That thou settest over me a guard?

13 W hen I said, `My bed doth comfort me,' He taketh away in my talking my couch.

14 A nd thou hast affrighted me with dreams, And from visions thou terrifiest me,

15 A nd my soul chooseth strangling, Death rather than my bones.

16 I have wasted away -- not to the age do I live. Cease from me, for my days vanity.

17 W hat man that Thou dost magnify him? And that Thou settest unto him Thy heart?

18 A nd inspectest him in the mornings, In the evenings dost try him?

19 H ow long dost Thou not look from me? Thou dost not desist till I swallow my spittle.

20 I have sinned, what do I to Thee, O watcher of man? Why hast Thou set me for a mark to Thee, And I am for a burden to myself -- and what?

21 T hou dost not take away my transgression, And cause to pass away mine iniquity, Because now, for dust I lie down: And Thou hast sought me -- and I am not!