Chapter 7
1 "Isn’t a man forced to labour on earth? Aren’t his days like the days of a hired hand?
2 As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow , as a hireling who looks for his wages ,
3 so I am made to possess months of misery , wearisome nights are appointed to me.
4 When I lie down , I say, ‘ When will I arise , and the night be gone ?’ I toss and turn until the dawning of the day .
5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust . My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.
6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope .
7 Oh remember that my life is a breath . My eye will no more see good .
8 The eye of him who sees me will see me no more . Your eyes will be on me , but I will not be .
9 As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away , so he who goes down to Sheol will come up no more .
10 He will return no more to his house , neither will his place know him any more .
11 " Therefore I will not keep silent . 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 you put a guard over me ?
13 When I say, ‘ My bed will comfort me . My couch will ease my complaint,’
14 then you scare me with dreams and terrify me through visions ,
15 so that my soul chooses strangling , death rather than my bones .
16 I loathe my life . I don’t want to live forever . Leave me alone , for my days are but a breath .
17 What is man , that you should magnify him , that you should set your mind on him ,
18 that you should visit him every morning , and test him every moment ?
19 How long will you not look away from me , nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle ?
20 If I have sinned , what do I do to you , you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you , so that I am a burden to myself?
21 Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity ? For now will I lie down in the dust . You will seek me diligently , but I will not be ."