[1] “Is not man forced to labor on earth, And are not his days like the days of a hired man?
[2] As a slave who pants for the shade, And as a hired man who eagerly waits for his wages,
[3] So am I allotted months of vanity, And nights of trouble are appointed me.
[4] When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I arise?’ But the night continues, And I am continually tossing until dawn.
[5] My flesh is clothed with worms and a crust of dirt, My skin hardens and runs.
[6] My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, And come to an end without hope.
[7] Remember that my life is but breath; My eye will not again see good.
[8] The eye of him who sees me will behold me no longer; Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.
[9] When a cloud vanishes, it is gone, So he who goes down to Sheol does not come up.
[10] He will not return again to his house, Nor will his place know him anymore.
[11] Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
[12] Am I the sea, or the sea monster, That You set a guard over me?
[13] If I say, ‘My bed will comfort me, My couch will ease my complaint,’
[14] Then You frighten me with dreams And terrify me by visions;
[15] So that my soul would choose suffocation, Death rather than my pains.
[16] I waste away; I will not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
[17] What is man that You magnify him, And that You are concerned about him,
[18] That You examine him every morning And try him every moment?
[19] Will You never turn Your gaze away from me, Nor let me alone until I swallow my spittle?
[20] Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself?
[21] Why then do You not pardon my transgression And take away my iniquity? For now I will lie down in the dust; And You will seek me, but I will not be.”