1 |Is there| not an appointed time to man upon earth? |are not| his days also like the days of an hireling? 2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an 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 unto the dawning of the day. 5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome. 6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope. 7 O remember that my life |is| wind: mine eye shall no more see good. 8 The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no |more|: thine 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 refrain 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 loathe |it|; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days |are| vanity. 17 What |is| man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? 18 And |that| thou shouldest 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 down 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 to myself? 21 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|.