71 "Is not man forced to labor on earth , And are not his days like the days of a hired man ? 2 "As a slave who pants for the shade , And as a hired man who eagerly waits for his wages , 3 So am I allotted months of vanity , And nights of trouble are appointed me. 4 "When I lie down I say , 'When shall I arise ?' But the night continues , And I am continually tossing until dawn . 5 "My flesh is clothed with worms and a crust of dirt , My skin hardens and runs . 6 "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle , And come to an end without hope .
7 "Remember that my life is but breath ; My eye will not again see good . 8 "The eye of him who sees me will behold me no longer; Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be. 9 "When a cloud vanishes , it is gone , So he who goes down to Sheol does not come up. 10 "He will not return again to his house , Nor will his place know him anymore . 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 the sea , or the sea monster , That You set a guard over me? 13 "If I say , ' My bed will comfort me, My couch will ease my complaint ,' 14 Then You frighten me with dreams And terrify me by visions ; 15 So that my soul would choose suffocation , Death rather than my pains . 16 "I waste away ; I will not live forever . Leave me alone , for my days are but a breath .
17 " What is man that You magnify him, And that You are concerned e about him, 18 That You examine him every morning And try him every moment ? 19 " Will You never turn Your gaze away from me, Nor let me alone until I swallow my spittle ? 20 " Have I sinned ? What have I done to You, O watcher of men ? Why have You set me as Your target , So that I am a burden to myself? 21 "Why then do You not pardon my transgression And take away my iniquity ? For now I will lie down in the dust ; And You will seek me, but I will not be."
