New International Version NIV
Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
1 “Do not mortals have hard service on earth? Are not their days like those of hired laborers?
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The life of man upon earth is a warfare, and his days are like the days of a hireling.
2 Like a slave longing for the evening shadows, or a hired laborer waiting to be paid,
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As a servant longeth for the shade, as the hireling looketh for the end of his work;
3 so I have been allotted months of futility, and nights of misery have been assigned to me.
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So I also have had empty months, and have numbered to myself wearisome nights.
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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If I lie down to sleep, I shall say: When shall I rise? and again, I shall look for the evening, and shall be filled with sorrows even till darkness.
5 My body is clothed with worms and scabs, my skin is broken and festering.
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My flesh is clothed with rottenness and the filth of dust; my skin is withered and drawn together.
6 “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and they come to an end without hope.
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My days have passed more swiftly than the web is cut by the weaver, and are consumed without any 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 wind, and my eye shall not return to see good things.
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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Nor shall the sight of man behold me: thy eyes are upon me, and I shall be no more.
9 As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so one who goes down to the grave does not return.
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As a cloud is consumed, and passeth away: so he that shall go down to hell shall not come up.
10 He will never come to his house again; his place will know him no more.
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Nor shall he return any more into his house, neither shall his place know him any 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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Wherefore, I will not spare my month, I will speak in the affliction of my spirit: I will talk with the bitterness of my soul.
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, or a whale, that thou hast inclosed me in a prison?
13 When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,
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If I say: My bed shall comfort me, and I shall be relieved, speaking with myself on my couch:
14 even then you frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions,
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Thou wilt frighten 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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So that my soul rather chooseth hanging, and my bones death.
16 I despise my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone; my days have no meaning.
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I have done with hope, I shall now live no longer: spare me, for my days are nothing.
17 “What is mankind that you make so much of them, that you give them so much attention,
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What is a man, that thou shouldst magnify him or why dost thou set thy heart upon him?
18 that you examine them every morning and test them every moment?
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Thou visitest him early in the morning, and thou provest him suddenly.
19 Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant?
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How long wilt thou not spare me, nor suffer me to swallow down my spittle?
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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I have sinned: what shall I do to thee, O keeper of men? why hast thou set me opposite to thee. and am I become burdensome to myself?
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 dost thou not remove my sin, and why dost thou not take away my iniquity? Behold now I shall sleep in the dust: and if thou seek me in the morning, I shall not be.
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