GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New King James Version NKJV
1 "Isn't a mortal's stay on earth difficult like a hired hand's daily [work]?
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"Is there not a time of hard service for man on earth? Are not his days also like the days of a hired man?
2 Like a slave, he longs for shade. Like a hired hand, he eagerly looks for his pay.
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Like a servant who earnestly desires the shade, And like a hired man who eagerly looks for his wages,
3 Likewise, I have been given months that are of no use, and I have inherited nights filled with misery.
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So I have been allotted months of futility, And wearisome nights have been appointed to me.
4 When I lie down, I ask, 'When will I get up?' But the evening is long, and I'm exhausted from tossing about until dawn.
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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.
5 My body is covered with maggots and scabs. My skin is crusted over with sores; then they ooze.
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My flesh is caked with worms and dust, My skin is cracked and breaks out afresh.
6 My days go swifter than a weaver's shuttle. They are spent without hope.
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"My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, And are spent without hope.
7 Remember, my life is only a breath, and never again will my eyes see anything good.
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Oh, remember that my life is a breath! My eye will never again see good.
8 The eye that watches over me will no longer see me. Your eye will look for me, but I'll be gone.
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The eye of him who sees me will see me no more; While your eyes are upon me, I shall no longer be.
9 As a cloud fades away and disappears, so a person goes into the grave and doesn't come back again.
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As the cloud disappears and vanishes away, So he who goes down to the grave does not come up.
10 He doesn't come back home again, and his household doesn't recognize him anymore.
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He shall never return to his house, Nor shall his place know him anymore.
11 So I won't keep my mouth shut, but I will speak from the distress that is in my spirit and complain about the bitterness in my soul.
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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.
12 "Am I the sea or a sea monster that you have set a guard over me?
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Am I a sea, or a sea serpent, That You set a guard over me?
13 When I say, 'My couch may give me comfort. My bed may help me bear my pain,'
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When I say, 'My bed will comfort me, My couch will ease my complaint,'
14 then you frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions.
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Then You scare me with dreams And terrify me with visions,
15 My throat would rather be choked. My body would prefer death [to these dreams].
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So that my soul chooses strangling And death rather than my body.
16 I hate my life; I do not want to live forever. Leave me alone because my days are so brief.
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I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone, For my days are but a breath.
17 "What is a mortal that you should make so much of him, that you should be concerned about him?
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"What is man, that You should exalt him, That You should set Your heart on him,
18 [What is he] that you should inspect him every morning and examine him every moment?
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That You should visit him every morning, And test him every moment?
19 Why don't you stop looking at me long enough to let me swallow my spit?
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How long? Will You not look away from me, And let me alone till I swallow my saliva?
20 If I sin, what can I [possibly] do to you since you insist on spying on people? Why do you make me your target? I've become a burden even to myself.
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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?
21 Why don't you forgive my disobedience and take away my sin? Soon I'll lie down in the dust. Then you will search for me, but I'll be gone!"
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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."