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¹ BEHOLD there is an appointed time for man upon earth, and his days are like the days of a hireling.² As a servant who eagerly longs for eventide, and as a hireling who looks to complete his job;³ So have I inherited months of vanity, and wearisome nights are meted out to me.⁴ When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise? and the night seems long; when I go to rest, I toss about till the dawning of the day.⁵ My flesh is covered with worms, and my body with dust; my skin is shrunk, and falls apart.⁶ My days are swifter than a weavers shuttle, and are spent without hope.

⁷ O remember that the spirit is still alive; even yet my eye shall again see good.⁸ The eye of him who has seen me shall rejoice no more; thine eyes are upon me, and vet I am gone.⁹ As the cloud fades away and disappears, so he who descends to Sheol shall not ascend any more.¹⁰ He shall return no more to his house, neither shall he recognize his place any more.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 a sea, or a sea monster, that thou settest a watch over me?¹³ For I said that thou shalt comfort me, and I will be relieved of the pain of my sickbed.¹⁴ And, behold, thou dost scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions;¹⁵ Thou hast drawn my life out of destruction, and my bones out of death.¹⁶ I am despondent; I would not live for ever; leave me alone, for my days are vanity.

¹⁷ What is man, that thou shouldst destroy him? And that thou shouldst think of him;¹⁸ And that thou shouldst visit him every morning, and try him every moment?¹⁹ How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow my spittle?²⁰ If I have sinned; what have I done to thee, O thou Creator of men? Why hast thou caused me to encounter thee? Thou hast become a burden to me.²¹ Until when wilt thou not forgive my transgressions and remove my iniquity? For now I shall lie in the dust; and thou shalt seek me, but I shall be no more.