Chapter 7

  Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of a hireling?  

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  As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as a hireling looketh for the reward of his work;  

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  So am I made to possess months of vanity, and 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? and I am full of tossings to and fro to the dawning of the day.  

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  My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken and become lothsome.  

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

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  O remember that my life is wind: my eye will no more see good.  

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  The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thy eyes are upon me, and I am not.  

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  As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave 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 restrain my mouth; 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 whale, that thou settest a watch 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 thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:  

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  So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.  

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  I lothe it; I would not live always: let me alone; for my days are vanity.  

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  What is man, that thou shouldst magnify him? and that thou shouldst set thy heart upon him?  

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  And that thou shouldst visit him every morning, and try him every moment?  

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  How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow my spittle?  

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  I have sinned; what shall I do to thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?  

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  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.  

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