Thomson(i)
1 Is not the life of man on the earth a state of trial, and his days like the days of a hireling?
2 Is he not like a servant, who in a shade is afraid of his lord? Or like a hireling waiting for his hire?
3 Just so have I waited months in vain, and wearisome nights have been doled out to me.
4 When I lay me down to rest, I say, When will it be day? And soon as I rise; I again say, When will it be evening? I am full of pains from evening till morning;
5 and my body swarms with the putrefaction of worms: and I moisten the clods of earth with the ichor of ulcers.
6 Though my life is swifter than a word; yet it is destroyed with vain hope.
7 Remember therefore that my life is but a breath; and that mine eyes shall never return again to see good.
8 The eye of him who seeth me now shall not see me again. Thine eyes are upon me and I am gone.
9 I am like a cloud swept clean away from the sky. For when a man goeth down to the mansion of the dead;
10 he can never reascend again; he can never return again to his own house; nor shall his place know him any more.
11 For this cause then I will not refrain my mouth: I will speak though I am in anguish: though distressed, I will unfold the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I a sea or a dragon, that thou hast set a guard over me?
13 Did I say my bed will comfort me; I will converse with myself privately on my bed?
14 Thou terrifiest me with dreams and affrightest me with visions.
15 Wilt thou drive away my life from my spirit; and yet keep my bones from death?
16 For I am not to live forever, that I should bear patiently. Withdraw from me; for my life is vanity.
17 For what is man, that thou hast magnified him; or that thou payest attention to him?
18 Wilt thou keep a watch upon him till the morning. And judge him to the time of going to rest?
19 How long wilt thou not let me alone: nor let me go, that I may swallow my spittle?
20 If I have sinned what can I do? thou who knowest the hearts of men; why hast thou set me up as thy mark to shoot at? Am I indeed a burden to thee?
21 Why hast thou not made an oblivion of my transgression; or a purification for my sin? Now therefore let me depart into the earth: and when thou risest in the morning, I am no more.