1“[59]Is a person not forced to labor on earth, And are his days not like the days of a hired worker?
2As a slave pants for the shade, And as a hired worker who eagerly waits for his wages,
3So I am allotted worthless months, And nights of trouble are apportioned to me.
4When I lie down, I say, ‘When shall I arise?’ But the night continues, And I am continually tossing until dawn.
5My flesh is clothed with maggots and a crust of dirt, My skin hardens and [60]oozes.
6My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And they come to an end without hope.
7“Remember that my life is a mere breath; My eye will not see goodness again.
8The eye of him who sees me will no longer look at me; Your eyes will be on me, but I will not exist.
9When a cloud vanishes, it is gone; In the same way one who goes down to [61]Sheol does not come up.
10He will not return to his house again, Nor will his place know about 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.
12Am I the sea, or the sea monster, That You set a guard over me?
13If I say, ‘My couch will comfort me, My bed will [62]ease my complaint,’
14Then You frighten me with dreams, And terrify me by visions,
15So that my soul would choose suffocation, Death rather than my [63]pains.
16I [64]waste away; I will not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are only a breath.
17What is man that You exalt him, And that You [65]are concerned about him,
18That You examine him every morning And put him to the test every moment?
19[66]Will You never turn Your gaze away from me, Nor leave me alone until I swallow my spittle?
20Have I sinned? What have I done to You, Watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, So that I am a burden to myself?
21Why then do You not forgive my wrongdoing And take away my [67]guilt? For now I will lie down in the dust; And You will search for me, but I will no longer exist.”