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.
1 Human life is like forced army service,
like a life of hard manual labor,
2 like a slave longing for cool shade;
like a worker waiting to be paid.
3 Month after month I have nothing to live for;
night after night brings me grief.
4 When I lie down to sleep, the hours drag;
I toss all night and long for dawn.
5 My body is full of worms;
it is covered with scabs;
pus runs out of my sores.
6 My days pass by without hope,
pass faster than a weaver's shuttle.
7 Remember, O God, my life is only a breath;
my happiness has already ended.
8 You see me now, but never again.
If you look for me, I'll be gone.
9-10 Like a cloud that fades and is gone,
we humans die and never return;
we are forgotten by all who knew us.
11 No! I can't be quiet!
I am angry and bitter.
I have to speak.
12 Why do you keep me under guard?
Do you think I am a sea monster?
13 I lie down and try to rest;
I look for relief from my pain.
14 But you—you terrify me with dreams;
you send me visions and nightmares
15 until I would rather be strangled
than live in this miserable body.
16 I give up; I am tired of living.
Leave me alone. My life makes no sense.
17 Why are people so important to you?
Why pay attention to what they do?
18 You inspect them every morning
and test them every minute.
19 Won't you look away long enough
for me to swallow my spit?
20 Are you harmed by my sin, you jailer?
Why use me for your target practice?
Am I so great a burden to you?
21 Can't you ever forgive my sin?
Can't you pardon the wrong I do?
Soon I will be in my grave,
and I'll be gone when you look for me.