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¹ Is there not a time of service to man upon earth? And are not his days like the days of a hireling?² As a servant that eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hireling that looketh for his wages;³ So am I made to possess--months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.⁴ When I lie down, I say: 'When shall I arise?' But the night is long, ⁵ My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin closeth up and breaketh out afresh.⁶ My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

⁷ O remember that my life is a breath; mine eye shall no more see good.⁸ The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; while Thine eyes are upon me, I am gone.⁹ As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.¹⁰ He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.¹¹ Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; ¹² Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, that Thou settest a watch over me?¹³ When I say: 'My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint';¹⁴ Then Thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions;¹⁵ So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than these my bones.¹⁶ I loathe it; I shall not live alway; let me alone; for my days are vanity.

¹⁷ What is man, that Thou shouldest magnify him, and that Thou shouldest set Thy heart upon him,¹⁸ And that Thou shouldest remember him every morning, and try him every moment?¹⁹ How long wilt Thou not look away from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?²⁰ If I have sinned, what do I unto Thee, O Thou watcher of men? ²¹ And why dost Thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity?