Chapter 7

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

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

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  So I also have had empty months, and have numbered to myself wearisome nights.  

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

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  My flesh is clothed with rottenness and the filth of dust, my skin is withered and drawn together.  

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

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  Remember that my life is but wind, and my eyes shall not return to see good things.  

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

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

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  Nor shall he return my more into his house, neither shall his place know him any more.  

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  Wherefore I will not spare my month, I will speak in the affliction of my spirit: I will talk with the bitterness of my soul.  

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  Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou hast enclosed me in a prison?  

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

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  Thou wilt frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions.  

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  So that my soul rather chooseth hanging, and my bones death.  

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

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  What is a man that thou shouldst magnify him? or why dost thou set thy heart upon him?  

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  Thou visitest him early in the morning, and thou provest him suddenly.  

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

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

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  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.  

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