Chapter 7

[Is there] not an appointed time to man upon earth? [are not] his days also like the days of an hireling?

As a servant earnestly desireth⁴ the shadow, and as an hireling looketh¹⁷ for [the reward of] his work:

So am I made to possess⁹⁰ months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed¹⁴ to me.

When I lie down,¹ I say,¹ When shall I arise,⁴ and the night be gone? and I am full¹ of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

My flesh is clothed¹ with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken,¹ and become loathsome.¹¹

My days are swifter¹ than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent⁴ without hope.

O remember³ that my life [is] wind: mine eye shall no more⁴ see² good.

The eye of him that hath seen me shall see⁴ me no [more]: thine eyes [are] upon me, and I [am] not.

[As] the cloud is consumed¹ and vanisheth⁴ away: so he that goeth down⁶ to the grave shall come up⁴ no [more].

He shall return⁴ no more to his house, neither shall his place know⁵⁵ him any more.

Therefore I will not refrain⁴ my mouth; I will speak¹⁷ in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain⁴ in the bitterness of my soul.

[Am] I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest⁴ a watch over me?

When I say,¹ My bed shall comfort¹⁷ me, my couch shall ease⁴ my complaint;

Then thou scarest¹⁴ me with dreams, and terrifiest¹⁷ me through visions:

So that my soul chooseth⁴ strangling, [and] death rather than my life.

I loathe¹ [it]; I would not live⁴ alway: let me alone;³ for my days [are] vanity.

What [is] man, that thou shouldest magnify¹⁷ him? and that thou shouldest set⁴ thine heart upon him?

And [that] thou shouldest visit⁴ him every morning, [and] try⁴ him every moment?

How long wilt thou not depart⁴ from me, nor let me alone⁵⁵ till I swallow down² my spittle?

I have sinned;¹ what shall I do⁴ unto thee, O thou preserver⁶ of men? why hast thou set¹ me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

And why dost thou not pardon⁴ my transgression, and take away⁵⁵ mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep⁴ in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning,¹⁴ but I [shall] not [be].