Isn't human life on earth like hard labor and their days like those of a hired worker?

Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?

Like a servant longing for shade, and like a hired worker waiting for his wages,

As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:

so I have been allotted months of futility, and nights of misery have been assigned to me.

So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

When I lie down, I think, 'When will I get up?' But the night drags on, and I am filled with tossing till dawn.

When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

My body is clothed with worms and scabs; my skin cracks and festers.

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.

My days pass more swiftly than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end without hope.

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

Remember that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see good again.

O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

The eye that now sees me will see me no longer; you will look for me, but I will be no more.

The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.

As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so one who goes down to the grave does not return.

As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

He will never come back to his house; his place will know him no more.

He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

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.

Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

Am I the sea, or a sea monster, that you put me under guard?

Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

When I think my bed will comfort me, and my couch will ease my complaint,

When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;

then you frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions.

Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:

I prefer strangling and death rather than this body of mine.

So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.

I despise my life; I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.

What is mankind that you make so much of them, that you give them so much attention,

What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?

that you examine them every morning and test them every moment?

And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?

Will you never look away from me or leave me alone till I swallow my spit?

How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

If I have sinned, what have I done to you, you who see everything we do? Why have you made me your target? Have I become a burden to you?

I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

Why do you not pardon my offenses and forgive my sins? For I will soon lie down in the dust; you will search for me, but I will be no more.

And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.