Is there not an appointed time to man
upon earth
? are not his days
also like the days
of an hireling
?
As a servant earnestly desireth
the shadow
, and as an hireling
looketh
for the reward of his work
:
So am I made to possess months
of vanity
, and wearisome
nights
are appointed
to me.
When I lie down, I say
, When shall I arise
, and the night
be gone
? and I am full
of tossings to and fro
unto the dawning of the day
.
My flesh is clothed
with worms
and clods
of dust
; my skin
is broken
, and become loathsome
.
My days are swifter
than a weaver's shuttle
, and are spent
without
hope
.
O remember that my life
is wind
: mine eye
shall no more
see
good
.
The eye of him that hath seen
me shall see
me no more : thine eyes
are upon me, and I am not.
As the cloud is consumed
and vanisheth away
: so he that goeth down
to the grave
shall come up
no more .
He shall return no more to his house
, neither shall his place
know
him any more.
Therefore I will not refrain my mouth
; I will speak
in the anguish
of my spirit
; I will complain
in the bitterness
of my soul
.
Am I a sea, or a whale
, that thou settest
a watch
over me?
When I say, My bed
shall comfort
me, my couch
shall ease
my complaint
;
Then thou scarest me with dreams
, and terrifiest
me through visions
:
So that my soul chooseth
strangling
, and death
rather than my life
.
I loathe it ; I would not live
alway
: let me alone
; for my days
are vanity
.
What is man, that thou shouldest magnify
him? and that thou shouldest set
thine heart
upon him?
And that thou shouldest visit him every morning
, and try
him every moment
?
How long wilt thou not depart
from me, nor let me alone
till I swallow down
my spittle
?
I have sinned; what shall I do
unto thee, O thou preserver
of men
? why hast thou set
me as a mark
against thee, so that I am a burden
to myself?
And why dost thou not pardon my transgression
, and take away
mine iniquity
? for now shall I sleep
in the dust
; and thou shalt seek me in the morning
, but I shall not be .