1[Is there] not an appointed time to man upon earth? [are not] his days also like the days of an employee (hired laborer)?

2As a servant earnestly desires the shadow, and as an employee (hired laborer) looks for [the reward of] his work:

3So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

4When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

5My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.

6My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

7O remember that my life [is] wind: my eye shall no more see good.

8The eye of him that has seen me shall see me no [more]: youⁱ eyes [are] upon me, and I [am] not.

9[As] the cloud is consumed and vanishes away: so he that goes 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 refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

12[Am] I a sea, or a whale, that youⁱ set a watch over me?

13When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;

14Then youⁱ terrify me with dreams, and terrify me through visions:

15So that my soul chooses strangling, [and] death rather than my life.

16I loathe [it]; I would not live always: let me alone; for my days [are] vanity.

17What [is] man, that youⁱ should magnify him? and that youⁱ should set youⁱ heart upon him?

18And [that] youⁱ should visit him every morning, [and] try him every moment?

19How long will youⁱ not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow (to approve, commend, accept) down my spittle?

20I have sinned; what shall I do unto youⁱ, O youⁱ preserver of men? why have youⁱ set me as a mark against youⁱ, so that I am a burden to myself?

21And why do youⁱ not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and youⁱ shall seek me in the morning, but I [shall] not [be].