Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Living Translation NLT
1 The life of man upon earth is a warfare, and his days are like the days of a hireling.
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“Is not all human life a struggle? Our lives are like that of a hired hand,
2 As a servant longeth for the shade, as the hireling looketh for the end of his work;
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like a worker who longs for the shade, like a servant waiting to be paid.
3 So I also have had empty months, and have numbered to myself wearisome nights.
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I, too, have been assigned months of futility, long and weary nights of misery.
4 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.
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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 flesh is clothed with rottenness and the filth of dust; my skin is withered and drawn together.
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My body is covered with maggots and scabs. My skin breaks open, oozing with pus.
6 My days have passed more swiftly than the web is cut by the weaver, and are consumed without any hope.
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“My days fly faster than a weaver’s shuttle. They end without hope.
7 Remember that my life is but wind, and my eye shall not return to see good things.
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O God, remember that my life is but a breath, and I will never again feel happiness.
8 Nor shall the sight of man behold me: thy eyes are upon me, and I shall 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 is consumed, and passeth away: so he that shall go down to hell shall not come up.
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Just as a cloud dissipates and vanishes, those who die will not come back.
10 Nor shall he return any more into his house, neither shall his place know him any more
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They are gone forever from their home— never to be seen again.
11 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.
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“I cannot keep from speaking. I must express my anguish. My bitter soul must complain.
12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou hast inclosed me in a prison?
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Am I a sea monster or a dragon that you must place me under guard?
13 If I say: My bed shall comfort me, and I shall be relieved, speaking with myself on my couch:
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I think, ‘My bed will comfort me, and sleep will ease my misery,’
14 Thou wilt 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 my soul rather chooseth hanging, and my bones death.
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I would rather be strangled— rather die than suffer like this.
16 I have done with hope, I shall now live no longer: spare me, for my days are nothing.
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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 a man, that thou shouldst magnify him or why dost thou set thy heart upon him?
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“What are people, that you should make so much of us, that you should think of us so often?
18 Thou visitest him early in the morning, and thou provest him suddenly.
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For you examine us every morning and test us every moment.
19 How long wilt thou not spare me, nor suffer me to swallow down my spittle?
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Why won’t you leave me alone, at least long enough for me to swallow!
20 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?
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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 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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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.”