" 1Is not man aforced
to labor
on earth
, And are not his days
like the days
of ba hired
man
?
"As a slave who pants
for the shade
, And as a hired
man
who eagerly
waits
for his wages
,
So am I allotted
months
of vanity
, And anights
of trouble
are appointed
me.
"When I alie
down
I say
, `When
shall I arise
?' But the night
continues
, And I am 1continually
tossing
until
dawn
.
"My aflesh is clothed
with worms
and a crust
of dirt
, My skin
hardens
and runs
.
"My days are aswifter
than
a weaver's
shuttle
, And come
to an end
bwithout
hope
.
"Remember that my life
ais but breath
; My eye
will bnot again
see
good
.
"The aeye of him who sees
me will behold
me no
longer; Your eyes
will be on me, but bI will not be.
"When a acloud vanishes
, it is gone
, So
bhe who goes
down
to cSheol
does not come
up.
"He will not return again
to his house
, Nor
will ahis place
know
him anymore
.
"Therefore aI will not restrain
my mouth
; I will speak
in the anguish
of my spirit
, I will complain
in the bitterness
of my soul
.
"Am I the sea, or
athe sea
monster
, That You set
a guard
over
me?
"If I say
, ` aMy bed
will comfort
me, My couch
will 1ease
my complaint
,'
Then You frighten me with dreams
And terrify
me by visions
;
So that my soul would choose
suffocation
, Death
rather
than
my 1pains
.
"I 1 awaste away
; I will not live
forever
. Leave
me alone
, bfor my days
are but a breath
.
" aWhat is man
that You magnify
him, And that You 1are concerned
about
him,
That aYou examine him every morning
And try
him every moment
?
" 1 aWill You never turn
Your gaze
away from me, Nor
let
me alone
until
I swallow
my spittle
?
" aHave I sinned? What
have I done
to You, O bwatcher
of men
? Why
have You set
me as Your target
, So that I am
a burden
to myself?
"Why then ado You not pardon
my transgression
And take
away
my iniquity
? For now
I will blie
down
in the dust
; And You will seek
me, cbut I will not be."