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 .
1 Is there not an appointed time to man vpon earth? and are not his dayes as the dayes of an hyreling? 2 As a seruant longeth for the shadowe, and as an hyreling looketh for the ende of his worke, 3 So haue I had as an inheritance the moneths of vanitie, and painefull nights haue bene appointed vnto me. 4 If I layed me downe, I sayde, When shall I arise? and measuring the euening I am euen full with tossing to and from vnto the dawning of the day. 5 My flesh is clothed with wormes and filthinesse of the dust: my skinne is rent, and become horrible. 6 My dayes are swifter then a weauers shittle, and they are spent without hope. 7 Remember that my life is but a wind, and that mine eye shall not returne to see pleasure. 8 The eye that hath seene me, shall see me no more: thine eyes are vpon me, and I shall be no longer. 9 As the cloude vanisheth and goeth away, so he that goeth downe to the graue, shall come vp no more. 10 He shall returne no more to his house, neither shall his place knowe him any more. 11 Therefore I will not spare my mouth, but will speake in the trouble of my spirite, and muse in the bitternesse of my minde. 12 Am I a sea or a whalefish, that thou keepest me in warde? 13 When I say, My couch shall relieue me, and my bed shall bring comfort in my meditation, 14 Then fearest thou me with dreames, and astonishest me with visions. 15 Therefore my soule chuseth rather to be strangled and to die, then to be in my bones. 16 I abhorre it, I shall not liue alway: spare me then, for my dayes are but vanitie. 17 What is man, that thou doest magnifie him, and that thou settest thine heart vpon him? 18 And doest visite him euery morning, and tryest him euery moment? 19 Howe long will it be yer thou depart from me? thou wilt not let me alone whiles I may swallowe my spettle. 20 I haue sinned, what shall I do vnto thee? O thou preseruer of me, why hast thou set me as a marke against thee, so that I am a burden vnto my selfe? 21 And why doest thou not pardon my trespasse? and take away mine iniquitie? for nowe shall I sleepe in the dust, and if thou seekest me in the morning, I shall not be found.