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

Is 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,

As 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.

So 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.

If 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,

Clothed 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.

My 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.

Remember 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.

The 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.

Consumed 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.

He 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.

Also 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?

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.

When 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,

And thou hast affrighted me with dreams, And from visions thou terrifiest me,

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

And 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.

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?

What 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?

And 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.

How 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?

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!

Thou 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!