1 The life of man upon earth is a warfare, and his days, as the days of an hired man.
1 The life of man upon earth is a warfare, and his days are like the days of a hireling.
2 As a servant desireth the shadow, and as the hired man tarrieth for the end of his work:
2 As a servant longeth for the shade, as the hireling looketh for the end of his work;
3 so I also have had vain months, & have numbered to myself laborious nights.
3 So I also have had empty months, and have numbered to myself wearisome nights.
4 If I sleep, I shall say: When shall I arise? & again I shall expect the evening, & shall be replenished with sorrows even until darkness.
4 If I lie down to sleep, I shall say: When shall I rise? And again, I shall look for the evening, and shall be filled with sorrows even till darkness.
5 My flesh is clothed with rottenness & filth of dust, my skin is withered, & drawn together.
5 My flesh is clothed with rottenness and the filth of dust; my skin is withered and drawn together.
6 My days have passed more swiftly, than the web is cut of the weaver, and are consumed without any hope.
6 My days have passed more swiftly than the web is cut by the weaver, and are consumed without any hope.
7 Remember that my life is a wind, & mine eye shall not return to see good things.
7 Remember that my life is but wind, and my eye shall not return to see good things.
8 Neither shall the sight of man behold me: thine eyes upon me, and I shall not stand.
8 Nor shall the sight of man behold me: thy eyes are upon me, and I shall be no more.
9 As a cloud is consumed, and passeth away: so he that shall descend to hell shall not ascend.
9 As a cloud is consumed, and passeth away: so he that shall go down to hell shall not come up.
10 Neither shall he return any more into his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
10 Nor shall he return any more into his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
11 Wherefore I also will not spare my mouth, I will speak in the tribulation of my spirit: I will talk with the bitterness of my soul.
11 Wherefore, I will not spare my mouth, I will speak in the affliction of my spirit: I will talk with the bitterness of my soul.
12 Why, am I a sea, or a whale, that thou hast compassed me with a prison?
12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou hast enclosed me in a prison?
13 If I say: My little bed shall comfort me, and I shall be relieved speaking with myself in my couch:
13 If I say: My bed shall comfort me, and I shall be relieved, speaking with myself on my couch:
14 Thou wilt terrify me by dreams, and by visions shake me with horror.
14 Thou wilt frighten me with dreams, and terrify me with visions.
15 For the which thing my soul hath chosen hanging, and my bones death.
15 So that my soul rather chooseth hanging, and my bones death.
16 I have despaired. I shall now live no longer: Spare me, for my days are nothing.
16 I have done with hope, I shall now live no longer: spare me, for my days are nothing.
17 What is man that thou magnifiest him? Or why settest thou thy heart toward him?
17 What is a man, that thou shouldst magnify him or why dost thou set thy heart upon him?
18 Thou doest visit him early, and suddenly thou provest him:
18 Thou visitest him early in the morning, and thou provest him suddenly.
19 How long doest thou not spare me, nor suffer me that I swallow my spittle?
19 How long wilt thou not spare me, nor suffer me to swallow down my spittle?
20 I have sinned, what shall I do to thee, o keeper of men? Why hast thou set me contrary to thee, and I am become burdenous to myself?
20 I have sinned: what shall I do to thee, O keeper of men? Why hast thou set me opposite to thee, and I am become burdensome to myself?
21 Why doest thou not take away my sin, and why doest thou not take away mine iniquity? Behold now I shall sleep in the dust: and if thou seek me in the morning, I shall not be.
21 Why dost thou not remove my sin, and why dost thou not take away my iniquity? Behold now I shall sleep in the dust: and if thou seek me in the morning, I shall not be.