1 Is not the life of man upon earth a state of trial? and his existence as that of a hireling by the day?
2 Or as a servant that fears his master, and one who has grasped a shadow? or as a hireling waiting for his pay?
3 So have I also endured months of vanity, and nights of pain have been appointed me.
4 Whenever I lie down, I say, When [will it be] day? and whenever I rise up, again [I say] when [will it be] evening? and I am full of pains from evening to morning.
5 And my body is covered with loathsome worms; and I waste away, scraping off clods of dust from my eruption.
6 And my life is lighter than a word, and has perished in vain hope.
7 Remember then that my life is breath, and mine eye shall not yet again see good.
8 The eye of him that sees me shall not see me [again]: thine eyes are upon me, and I am no more.
9 [I am] as a cloud that is cleared away from the sky: for if a man go down to the grave, he shall not come up again:
10 and he shall surely not return to his own house, neither shall his place know him any more.
11 Then neither will I refrain my mouth: I will speak being in distress; being in anguish I will disclose the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I a sea, or a serpent, that thou hast set a watch over me?
13 I said that my bed should comfort me, and I would privately counsel with myself on my couch.
14 Thou scarest me with dreams, and dost terrify me with visions.
15 Thou wilt separate life from my spirit; and yet [keep] my bones from death.
16 For I shall not live for ever, that I should patiently endure: depart from me, for my life [is] vain.
17 For what is man, that thou hast magnified him? or that thou givest heed to him?
18 Wilt thou visit him till the morning, and judge him till [the time of] rest?
19 How long dost thou not let me alone, nor let me go, until I shall swallow down my spittle?
20 If I have sinned, what shall I be able to do, O thou that understandest the mind of men? why hast thou made me as thine accuser, and [why] am I a burden to thee?
21 Why hast thou not forgotten my iniquity, and purged my sin? but now I shall depart to the earth; and in the morning, I am no more.