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1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
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2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:
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3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and 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? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
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5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.
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6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.
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7 O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.
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8 The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.
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9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave 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 refrain my mouth; 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 whale, that thou settest a watch 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 thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:
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15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.
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16 I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
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17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
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18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
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19 How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
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20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?
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21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.
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- 1 “Is not man forced to labor on earth, And are not his days like the days of a hired man?
- 2 “As a slave who pants for the shade, And as a hired man who eagerly waits for his wages,
- 3 So am I allotted months of vanity, And nights of trouble are appointed me.
- 4 “When I lie down I say, 'When shall I arise?' But the night continues, And I am continually tossing until dawn.
- 5 “My flesh is clothed with worms and a crust of dirt, My skin hardens and runs.
- 6 “My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, And come to an end without hope.
- 7 “Remember that my life is but breath; My eye will not again see good.
- 8 “The eye of him who sees me will behold me no longer; Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.
- 9 “When a cloud vanishes, it is gone, So he who goes down to Sheol does not come up.
- 10 “He will not return again to his house, Nor will his place know 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.
- 12 “Am I the sea, or the sea monster, That You set a guard over me?
- 13 “If I say, 'My bed will comfort me, My couch will ease my complaint,'
- 14 Then You frighten me with dreams And terrify me by visions;
- 15 So that my soul would choose suffocation, Death rather than my pains.
- 16 “I waste away; I will not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
- 17 “What is man that You magnify him, And that You are concerned about him,
- 18 That You examine him every morning And try him every moment?
- 19 “Will You never turn Your gaze away from me, Nor let me alone until I swallow my spittle?
- 20 “Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself?
- 21 “Why then do You not pardon my transgression And take away my iniquity? For now I will lie down in the dust; And You will seek me, but I will not be.”
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