7:1 Is not the life of man upon earth a
state of trial? and his existence as that of a hireling by the day?
7:2 Or as a servant that fears his master, and one who has grasped a shadow?
or as a hireling waiting for his pay?
7:3 So have I also endured months of vanity, and nights of pain have been
appointed me.
7:4 Whenever I lie down, I say, When [will it be] day? and whenever I rise
up, again [I say] when [will it be] evening? and I am full of pains from
evening to morning.
7:5 And my body is covered with loathsome worms; and I waste away, scraping
off clods of dust from my eruption.
7:6 And my life is lighter than a word, and has perished in vain hope.
7:7 Remember then that my life is breath, and mine eye shalt not yet again
see good.
7:8 The eye of him that sees me shall not see me [again]: thine eyes are
upon me, and I am no more.
7:9 [I am] as a cloud that is cleared away from the sky: for if a man go
down to the grave, he shall not come up again:
7:10 and he shall surely not return to his own house, neither shall his
place know him any more.
7:11 Then neither will I refrain my mouth: I will speak being in distress;
being in anguish I will disclose the bitterness of my soul.
7:12 Am I a sea, or a serpent, that thou hast set a watch over me?
7:13 I said that my bed should comfort me, and I would privately counsel
with myself on my couch.
7:14 Thou scarest me with dreams, and dost terrify me with visions.
7:15 Thou wilt separate life from my spirit; and yet [keep] my bones from
death.
7:16 For I shall not live for ever, that I should patiently endure: depart
from me, for my life [is] vain.
7:17 For what is man, that thou hast magnified him? or that thou givest heed
to him?
7:18 Wilt thou visit him till the morning, and judge him till [the time of]
rest?
7:19 How long dost thou not let me alone, nor let me go, until I shall
swallow down my spittle?
7:20 If I have sinned, what shall I be able to do, O thou that understandest
the mind of men? why hast thou made me as thine accuser, and [why] am I a
burden to thee?
7:21 Why hast thou not forgotten my iniquity, and purged my sin? but now I
shall depart to the earth; and in the morning I am no more. |
7:1 Is there not an appointed time to man
upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
7:2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh
for the reward of his work:
7:3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are
appointed to me.
7:4 When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I
am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
7:5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and
become loathsome.
7:6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7:7 O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.
7:8 The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are
upon me, and I am not.
7:9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to
the grave shall come up no more.
7:10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him
any more.
7:11 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of
my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
7:12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?
7:13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaints;
7:14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:
7:15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.
7:16 I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are
vanity.
7:17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest
set thine heart upon him?
7:18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every
moment?
7:19 How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow
down my spittle?
7:20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why
hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?
7:21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my
iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the
morning, but I shall not be. |