1Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? and are not his days as the days of an hireling?
2As a servant longeth for the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the end of his work,
3So have I had as an inheritance the months of vanity, and painful nights have been appointed unto me.
4If 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.
5My flesh is clothed with worms and filthiness of the dust: my skin is rent, and become horrible.
6My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and they are spent without hope.
7Remember that my life is but a wind, and that mine eye shall not return to see pleasure.
8The eye that hath seen me, shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I shall be no longer.
9As the cloud vanisheth and goeth away, so he that goeth down to the grave, shall come up no more.
10He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him anymore.
11Therefore I will not spare my mouth, but will speak in the trouble of my spirit, and muse in the bitterness of my mind.
12Am I a sea or a whalefish, that thou keepest me in ward?
13When I say, My couch shall relieve me, and my bed shall bring comfort in my meditation,
14Then fearest thou me with dreams, and astonishest me with visions.
15Therefore my soul chooseth rather to be strangled and to die, than to be in my bones.
16I abhor it: I shall not live always: spare me then, for my days are but vanity.
17What is man, that thou dost magnify him, and that thou settest thine heart upon him?
18And dost visit him every morning, and triest him every moment?
19How long will it be ere thou depart from me? thou wilt not let me alone while I may swallow my spittle.
20I 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?
21And why dost thou not pardon my trespass? and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust, and if thou seek me in the morning, I shall not be found.