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¹ Is not the life of man upon earth a state of trial? and his existence as that of a hireling by the day? ² Or as a servant that fears his master, and one who has grasped a shadow? or as a hireling waiting for his pay? ³ So have I also endured months of vanity, and nights of pain have been appointed me. ⁴ Whenever I lie down, I say, When will it be day? and whenever I rise up, again I say when will it be evening? and I am full of pains from evening to morning. ⁵ And my body is covered with loathsome worms; and I waste away, scraping off clods of dust from my eruption. ⁶ And my life is lighter than a word, and has perished in vain hope.

⁷ Remember then that my life is breath, and mine eye shalt not yet again see good. ⁸ The eye of him that sees me shall not see me again: thine eyes are upon me, and I am no more. ⁹ I am as a cloud that is cleared away from the sky: for if a man go down to the grave, he shall not come up again: ¹⁰ and he shall surely not return to his own house, neither shall his place know him any more. ¹¹ Then neither will I refrain my mouth: I will speak being in distress; being in anguish I will disclose the bitterness of my soul. ¹² Am I a sea, or a serpent, that thou hast set a watch over me? ¹³ I said that my bed should comfort me, and I would privately counsel with myself on my couch. ¹⁴ Thou scarest me with dreams, and dost terrify me with visions. ¹⁵ Thou wilt separate life from my spirit; and yet keep my bones from death. ¹⁶ For I shall not live for ever, that I should patiently endure: depart from me, for my life is vain.

¹⁷ For what is man, that thou hast magnified him? or that thou givest heed to him? ¹⁸ Wilt thou visit him till the morning, and judge him till the time of rest? ¹⁹ How long dost thou not let me alone, nor let me go, until I shall swallow down my spittle? ²⁰ If I have sinned, what shall I be able to do, O thou that understandest the mind of men? why hast thou made me as thine accuser, and why am I a burden to thee? ²¹ Why hast thou not forgotten my iniquity, and purged my sin? but now I shall depart to the earth; and in the morning I am no more.