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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, and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
[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] 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 a 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; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
[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 throug 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 shouldes 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? Why hast Thou set me as a mark for Thee, so that I am a burden to myself?
[21] And why dost Thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust; and Thou wilt seek me, but I shall not be.
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