Job, 7

[1] The life of man upon earth is a warfare, and his days are like the days of a hireling. •

[2] As a servant longeth for the shade, as the hireling looketh for the end of his work;

[3] So I also have had empty months, and have numbered to myself wearisome nights. •

[4] If I lie down to sleep, I shall say: When shall I rise? and again, I shall look for the evening, and shall be filled with sorrows even till darkness. •

[5] My flesh is clothed with rottenness and the filth of dust; my skin is withered and drawn together. •

[6] My days have passed more swiftly than the web is cut by the weaver, and are consumed without any hope. •

[7] Remember that my life is but wind, and my eye shall not return to see good things. •

[8] Nor shall the sight of man behold me: thy eyes are upon me, and I shall be no more. •

[9] As a cloud is consumed, and passeth away: so he that shall go down to hell shall not come up. •

[10] Nor shall he return any more into his house, neither shall his place know him any more •

[11] Wherefore, I will not spare my mouth, I will speak in the affliction of my spirit: I will talk with the bitterness of my soul. •

[12] Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou hast enclosed me in a prison? •

[13] If I say: My bed shall comfort me, and I shall be relieved, speaking with myself on my couch:

[14] Thou wilt frighten me with dreams, and terrify me with visions.

[15] So that my soul rather chooseth hanging, and my bones death. •

[16] I have done with hope, I shall now live no longer: spare me, for my days are nothing. •

[17] What is a man, that thou shouldst magnify him or why dost thou set thy heart upon him? •

[18] Thou visitest him early in the morning, and thou provest him suddenly. •

[19] How long wilt thou not spare me, nor suffer me to swallow down my spittle?

[20] I have sinned: what shall I do to thee, O keeper of men? why hast thou set me opposite to thee. and am I become burdensome to myself? •

[21] Why dost thou not remove my sin, and why dost thou not take away my iniquity? Behold now I shall sleep in the dust: and if thou seek me in the morning, I shall not be. •