New International Version NIV
New Living Translation NLT
1 “Do not mortals have hard service on earth? Are not their days like those of hired laborers?
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“Is not all human life a struggle? Our lives are like that of a hired hand,
2 Like a slave longing for the evening shadows, or a hired laborer waiting to be paid,
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like a worker who longs for the shade, like a servant waiting to be paid.
3 so I have been allotted months of futility, and nights of misery have been assigned to me.
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I, too, have been assigned months of futility, long and weary nights of misery.
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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Lying in bed, I think, ‘When will it be morning?’ But the night drags on, and I toss till dawn.
5 My body is clothed with worms and scabs, my skin is broken and festering.
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My body is covered with maggots and scabs. My skin breaks open, oozing with 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 fly faster than a weaver’s shuttle. They 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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O God, remember that my life is but a breath, and I will never again feel happiness.
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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You see me now, but not for long. You will look for me, but 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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Just as a cloud dissipates and vanishes, those who die will not come back.
10 He will never come to his house again; his place will know him no more.
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They are gone forever from their home— never to be seen again.
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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“I cannot keep from speaking. I must express my anguish. My bitter soul must complain.
12 Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that you put me under guard?
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Am I a sea monster or a dragon that you must place me under guard?
13 When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,
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I think, ‘My bed will comfort me, and sleep will ease my misery,’
14 even then you frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions,
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but then you shatter me with dreams and terrify 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— rather die than suffer like this.
16 I despise my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone; my days have no meaning.
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I hate my life and don’t want to go on living. Oh, leave me alone for my few remaining days.
17 “What is mankind that you make so much of them, that you give them so much attention,
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“What are people, that you should make so much of us, that you should think of us so often?
18 that you examine them every morning and test them every moment?
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For you examine us every morning and test us every moment.
19 Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant?
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Why won’t you leave me alone, at least long enough for me to swallow!
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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If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of all humanity? Why make me your target? Am I 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 not just forgive my sin and take away my guilt? For soon I will lie down in the dust and die. When you look for me, 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.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.