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[1]Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? And are not his days as the days of an hireling?
[2]As a servant longeth for the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the end of his work,
[3]So have I had as an inheritance the months of vanity, and painful nights have been appointed unto me.
[4]If I laid me down, I said, When shall I arise? And measuring the evening I am even full with tossing to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
[5]My flesh is clothed with worms and filthiness of the dust: my skin is rent, and become horrible.
[6]My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and they are spent without hope.
[7]Remember that my life is but a wind, and that mine eye shall not return to see pleasure.
[8]The eye that hath seen me, shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I shall be no longer.
[9]As the cloud vanisheth and goeth 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 spare my mouth, but will speak in the trouble of my spirit, and muse in the bitterness of my mind.
[12]Am I a sea or a whale fish, that thou keepest me in ward?
[13]When I say, My couch shall relieve me , and my bed shall bring comfort in my meditation,
[14]Then fearest thou me with dreams, and astonishest me with visions.
[15]Therefore my soul chooseth rather to be strangled and to die, than to be in my bones.
[16]I abhor it, I shall not live alway: spare me then, for my days are but vanity.
[17]What is man, that thou dost magnify him, and that thou settest thine heart upon him?
[18]And dost visit him every morning, and tryest him every moment?
[19]How long will it be ere thou depart from me? Thou wilt not let me alone whiles I may swallow my spittle.
[20]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 unto myself?
[21]And why dost thou not pardon my trespass? And take away mine iniquity? For now shall I sleep in the dust, and if thou seekest me in the morning, I shall not be found.
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