New International Version NIV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 “Do not mortals have hard service on earth? Are not their days like those of hired laborers?
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"Human life on earth is like serving in the army; yes, we drudge through our days like a hired worker,
2 Like a slave longing for the evening shadows, or a hired laborer waiting to be paid,
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like a slave longing for shade, like a worker thinking only of his wages.
3 so I have been allotted months of futility, and nights of misery have been assigned to me.
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So I am assigned months of meaninglessness; troubled nights are my lot.
4 When I lie down I think, ‘How long before I get up?’ The night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.
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When I lie down, I ask, 'When can I get up?'But the night is long, and I keep tossing to and fro until daybreak.
5 My body is clothed with worms and scabs, my skin is broken and festering.
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My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt, my skin forms scabs that ooze pus.
6 “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and they come to an end without hope.
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My days pass more swiftly than a weaver's shuttle and come to their end without hope.
7 Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again.
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"Remember that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never again see good times.
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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The eye that now sees me will see me no more; while your eyes are on me, I will be gone.
9 As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so one who goes down to the grave does not return.
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Like a cloud dissolving and disappearing, so he who descends to Sh'ol won't come back up.
10 He will never come to his house again; his place will know him no more.
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He will not return again to his house, and his home will know him no more.
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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"Therefore I will not restrain my mouth but will speak in my anguish of spirit and complain in my bitterness of soul.
12 Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that you put me under guard?
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Am I the sea, or some sea monster, that you put a guard over me?
13 When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,
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When I think that my bed will comfort me, that my couch will relieve my complaint,
14 even then you frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions,
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then you terrify me with dreams and frighten me with visions.
15 so that I prefer strangling and death, rather than this body of mine.
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I would rather be strangled; death would be better than these bones of mine.
16 I despise my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone; my days have no meaning.
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I hate it! I won't live forever, so leave me alone, for my life means nothing.
17 “What is mankind that you make so much of them, that you give them so much attention,
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"What are mere mortals, that you make so much of them? Why do you keep them on your mind?
18 that you examine them every morning and test them every moment?
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Why examine them every morning and test them every moment?
19 Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant?
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Won't you ever take your eyes off of me, at least long enough for me to swallow my spit?
20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you, you who see everything we do? Why have you made me your target? Have I become a burden to you?
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"Suppose I do sin - how do I harm you, you scrutinizer of humanity? Why have you made me your target, so that I am a burden to you?
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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Why don't you pardon my offense and take away my guilt? For soon I will lie down in the dust; you will seek me, but I will be gone."
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.