| Chapter 7 |
1 | 'Isn't a man forced to labor on earth? Aren't his days like the days of a hired hand?
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2 | As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, As a hireling who looks for his wages,
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3 | So am I made to possess months of misery, Wearisome nights are appointed to me.
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4 | When I lie down, I say, 'When shall I arise, and the night be gone?' I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.
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5 | My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.
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6 | My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, And are spent without hope.
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7 | Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye shall no more see good.
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8 | The eye of him who sees me shall see me no more. Your eyes shall be on me, but I shall not be.
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9 | As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, So he who goes down to Sheol shall come up no more.
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10 | He shall return no more to his house, Neither shall his place know him any more.
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11 | 'Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
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12 | Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, That you put a guard over me?
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13 | When I say, 'My bed shall comfort me, My couch shall ease my complaint;'
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14 | Then you scar me with dreams, And terrify me through visions:
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15 | So that my soul chooses strangling, Death rather than my bones.
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16 | I loathe my life. I don't want to live forever. Leave me alone; for my days are but a breath.
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17 | What is man, that you should magnify him, That you should set your mind on him,
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18 | That you should visit him every morning, And test him every moment?
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19 | How long will you not look away from me, Nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?
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20 | If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, So that I am a burden to myself?
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21 | Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I shall not be.'
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