| New King James Version (NKJV) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 "Is there not a time of hard service for man on earth? Are not his days also like the days of a hired man?
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1 "Does not man have hard service on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired man?
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2 Like a servant who earnestly desires the shade, And like a hired man who eagerly looks for his wages,
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2 Like a slave longing for the evening shadows, or a hired man waiting eagerly for his wages,
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3 So I have been allotted months of futility, And wearisome nights have been appointed to me.
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3 so I have been allotted months of futility, and nights of misery have been assigned to me.
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4 When I lie down, I say, 'When shall I arise, And the night be ended?' For I have had my fill of tossing till dawn.
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4 When I lie down I think, 'How long before I get up?' The night drags on, and I toss till dawn.
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5 My flesh is caked with worms and dust, My skin is cracked and breaks out afresh.
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5 My body is clothed with worms and scabs, my skin is broken and festering.
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6 "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, And are spent without hope.
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6 "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end without hope.
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7 Oh, remember that my life is a breath! My eye will never again see good.
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7 Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again.
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8 The eye of him who sees me will see me no more; While your eyes are upon me, I shall no longer be.
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8 The eye that now sees me will see me no longer; you will look for me, but I will be no more.
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9 As the cloud disappears and vanishes away, So he who goes down to the grave does not come up.
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9 As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to the grave does not return.
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10 He shall never return to his house, Nor shall his place know him anymore.
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10 He will never come to his house again; his place will know him no more.
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11 "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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11 "Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
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12 Am I a sea, or a sea serpent, That You set a guard over me?
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12 Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that you put me under guard?
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13 When I say, 'My bed will comfort me, My couch will ease my complaint,'
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13 When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,
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14 Then You scare me with dreams And terrify me with visions,
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14 even then you frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions,
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15 So that my soul chooses strangling And death rather than my body.
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15 so that I prefer strangling and death, rather than this body of mine.
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16 I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone, For my days are but a breath.
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16 I despise my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone; my days have no meaning.
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17 "What is man, that You should exalt him, That You should set Your heart on him,
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17 "What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention,
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18 That You should visit him every morning, And test him every moment?
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18 that you examine him every morning and test him every moment?
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19 How long? Will You not look away from me, And let me alone till I swallow my saliva?
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19 Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant?
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20 Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself?
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20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of men? Why have you made me your target? Have I become a burden to you?
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21 Why then do You not pardon my transgression, And take away my iniquity? For now I will lie down in the dust, And You will seek me diligently, But I will no longer be."
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21 Why do you not pardon my offenses and forgive my sins? For I will soon lie down in the dust; you will search for me, but I will be no more."
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| Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (New King James Version) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
