Chapter 7

  'Isn't a man forced to labor on earth? Aren't his days like the days of a hired hand?  

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  As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, As a hireling who looks for his wages,  

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  So am I made to possess months of misery, Wearisome nights are appointed to me.  

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  When I lie down, I say, 'When shall I arise, and the night be gone?' I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.  

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  My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.  

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  My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, And are spent without hope.  

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  Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye shall no more see good.  

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  The eye of him who sees me shall see me no more. Your eyes shall be on me, but I shall not be.  

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  As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, So he who goes down to Sheol shall come up no more.  

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  He shall return no more to his house, Neither shall his place know him any more.  

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  'Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.  

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  Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, That you put a guard over me?  

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  When I say, 'My bed shall comfort me, My couch shall ease my complaint;'  

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  Then you scar me with dreams, And terrify me through visions:  

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  So that my soul chooses strangling, Death rather than my bones.  

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  I loathe my life. I don't want to live forever. Leave me alone; for my days are but a breath.  

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  What is man, that you should magnify him, That you should set your mind on him,  

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  That you should visit him every morning, And test him every moment?  

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  How long will you not look away from me, Nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?  

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  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?  

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  Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I shall not be.'  

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