- 1
- Is there not an appointed time to man vpon earth?
are not his dayes also like the dayes of an hireling?
- 2
- As a seruant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his worke:
- 3
- So am I made to possesse moneths of vanitie, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
- 4
- When I lie downe, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone?
and I am full of tossings to and fro, vnto the dawning of the day.
- 5
- My flesh is cloathed with wormes and clods of dust, my skinne is broken, and become loathsome.
- 6
- My dayes are swifter then a weauers shuttle, and are spent without hope.
- 7
- O remember that my life is winde: mine eye shall no more see good.
- 8
- The eye of him that hath seene me, shall see mee no more: thine eyes are vpon me, and I am not.
- 9
- As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth downe to the graue, shall come vp no more.
- 10
- Hee shall returne no more to his house: neither shall his place know him any more.
- 11
- Therefore I will not refraine my mouth, I wil speake in the anguish of my spirit, I will complaine in the bitternesse of my soule.
- 12
- Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch ouer me?
- 13
- When I say, My bed shal comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint:
- 14
- Then thou skarest mee with dreames, and terrifiest me through visions.
- 15
- So that my soule chooseth strangling: and death rather then my life.
- 16
- I loath it, I would not liue alway: let me alone, for my dayes are vanitie.
- 17
- What is man, that thou shouldest magnifie him?
and that thou shouldest set thine heart vpon him?
- 18
- And that thou shouldest visite him euery morning, and trie him euery moment?
- 19
- How long wilt thou not depart from me?
nor let me alone till I swallow downe my spittle?
- 20
- I haue sinned, what shall I doe vnto thee, O thou preseruer of men?
why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to my selfe?
- 21
- And why doest thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquitie?
for now shall I sleepe in the dust, and thou shalt seeke me in the morning, but I shall not be.
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