Verse 1 "Isn't a man forced to labor on earth? Aren't his days like the days of a hired hand? Verse 2 As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling who looks for his wages, Verse 3 so am I made to possess months of misery, wearisome nights are appointed to me. Verse 4 When I lie down, I say, 'When shall I arise, and the night be gone?' I toss and turn until the dawning of the day. Verse 5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh. Verse 6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope. Verse 7 Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye shall no more see good. Verse 8 The eye of him who sees me shall see me no more. Your eyes shall be on me, but I shall not be. Verse 9 As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol shall come up no more. Verse 10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more. Verse 11 "Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Verse 12 Am I a sea, or a sea monster, that you put a guard over me? Verse 13 When I say, 'My bed shall comfort me. My couch shall ease my complaint;' Verse 14 then you scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions: Verse 15 so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than my bones. Verse 16 I loathe my life. I do not want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath. Verse 17 What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him, Verse 18 that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment? Verse 19 How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle? Verse 20 If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself? Verse 21 Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I shall not be."