1. |
Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of a hireling? |
2. |
As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as a hireling looketh for the reward of his work; |
3. |
So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me. |
4. |
When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro to the dawning of the day. |
5. |
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken and become lothsome. |
6. |
My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope. |
7. |
O remember that my life is wind: my eye will no more see good. |
8. |
The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thy eyes are upon me, and I am not. |
9. |
As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. |
10. |
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. |
12. |
Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me? |
13. |
When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint; |
14. |
Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions: |
15. |
So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life. |
16. |
I lothe it; I would not live always: let me alone; for my days are vanity. |
17. |
What is man, that thou shouldst magnify him? and that thou shouldst set thy heart upon him? |
18. |
And that thou shouldst visit him every morning, and try him every moment? |
19. |
How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow my spittle? |
20. |
I have sinned; what shall I do to thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? |
21. |
And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be. |