[1] Has not man his ordered time of trouble on the earth? and are not his
days like the days of a servant working for payment? [2] As a servant
desiring the shades of evening, and a workman looking for his payment: [3]
So I have for my heritage months of pain to no purpose, and nights of
weariness are given to me. [4] When I go to my bed, I say, When will it be
time to get up? but the night is long, and I am turning from side to side
till morning light. [5] My flesh is covered with worms and dust; my skin
gets hard and then is cracked again. [6] My days go quicker than the
cloth-worker's thread, and come to an end without hope. [7] O, keep in mind
that my life is wind: my eye will never again see good. [8] The eye of him
who sees me will see me no longer: your eyes will be looking for me, but I
will be gone. [9] A cloud comes to an end and is gone; so he who goes down
into the underworld comes not up again. [10] He will not come back to his
house, and his place will have no more knowledge of him. [11] So I will not
keep my mouth shut; I will let the words come from it in the pain of my
spirit, my soul will make a bitter outcry. [12] Am I a sea, or a sea-beast,
that you put a watch over me? [13] When I say, In my bed I will have
comfort, there I will get rest from my disease; [14] Then you send dreams
to me, and visions of fear; [15] So that a hard death seems better to my
soul than my pains. [16] I have no desire for life, I would not be living
for ever! Keep away from me, for my days are as a breath. [17] What is man,
that you have made him great, and that your attention is fixed on him, [18]
And that your hand is on him every morning, and that you are testing him
every minute? [19] How long will it be before your eyes are turned away
from me, so that I may have a minute's breathing-space? [20] If I have done
wrong, what have I done to you, O keeper of men? why have you made me a
mark for your blows, so that I am a weariness to myself? [21] And why do
you not take away my sin, and let my wrongdoing be ended? for now I go down
to the dust, and you will be searching for me with care, but I will be
gone.