1
"Is not man aforced to labor on earth, And are not his days like the days of ba hired man?
2
"As a slave who pants for the shade, And as a hired man who eagerly waits for his wages,
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So am I allotted months of vanity, And anights of trouble are appointed me.
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"When I alie down I say, 'When shall I arise?' But the night continues, And I am continually tossing until dawn.
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"My aflesh is clothed with worms and a crust of dirt, My skin hardens and runs.
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"My days are aswifter than a weaver's shuttle, And come to an end bwithout hope.
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"Remember that my life ais but breath; My eye will bnot again see good.
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"The aeye of him who sees me will behold me no longer; Your eyes will be on me, but bI will not be.
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"When a acloud vanishes, it is gone, So bhe who goes down to cSheol does not come up.
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"He will not return again to his house, Nor will ahis place know him anymore.
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"Therefore aI will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
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"Am I the sea, or athe sea monster, That You set a guard over me?
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"If I say, 'aMy bed will comfort me, My couch will ease my complaint,'
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Then You frighten me with dreams And terrify me by visions;
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So that my soul would choose suffocation, Death rather than my pains.
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"I awaste away; I will not live forever. Leave me alone, bfor my days are but a breath.
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"aWhat is man that You magnify him, And that You are concerned about him,
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That aYou examine him every morning And try him every moment?
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"aWill You never turn Your gaze away from me, Nor let me alone until I swallow my spittle?
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"aHave I sinned? What have I done to You, O bwatcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself?
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"Why then ado You not pardon my transgression And take away my iniquity? For now I will blie down in the dust; And You will seek me, cbut I will not be."