1Is there not an appointed time to man vpon earth? are not his dayes also like the dayes of an hireling?2As a seruant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his worke:3So am I made to possesse moneths of vanitie, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.4When I lie downe, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro, vnto the dawning of the day.5My flesh is cloathed with wormes and clods of dust, my skinne is broken, and become loathsome.6My dayes are swifter then a weauers shuttle, and are spent without hope.7O remember that my life is winde: mine eye shall no more see good.8The eye of him that hath seene me, shall see mee no more: thine eyes are vpon me, and I am not.9As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth downe to the graue, shall come vp no more.10Hee shall returne no more to his house: neither shall his place know him any more.11Therefore I will not refraine my mouth, I wil speake in the anguish of my spirit, I will complaine in the bitternesse of my soule.12Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch ouer me?13When I say, My bed shal comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint:14Then thou skarest mee with dreames, and terrifiest me through visions.15So that my soule chooseth strangling: and death rather then my life.16I loath it, I would not liue alway: let me alone, for my dayes are vanitie.17What is man, that thou shouldest magnifie him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart vpon him?18And that thou shouldest visite him euery morning, and trie him euery moment?19How long wilt thou not depart from me? nor let me alone till I swallow downe my spittle?20I haue sinned, what shall I doe vnto thee, O thou preseruer of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to my selfe?21And why doest thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquitie? for now shall I sleepe in the dust, and thou shalt seeke me in the morning, but I shall not be.
