- 1
- Is ther not an appoynted time to man vpon earth?
Are not his dayes also like the dayes of an hired seruaunt?
- 2
- For like as a bonde seruaunt desireth the shadowe, and as an hyreling woulde fayne haue the rewarde of his worke:
- 3
- Euen so haue I laboured whole monethes long in vayne, and many a carefull night haue I tolde.
- 4
- When I layde me downe to sleepe, I sayde, O when shall I arise?
and measuring the euening, I am euen full with tossing to and fro vnto the dawning of the day.
- 5
- My fleshe is clothed with wormes and dust of the earth: my skinne is withered and become horrible.
- 6
- My dayes passe ouer more spedyly then a weauers shuttle, and are spent without hope.
- 7
- O remember that my lyfe is but a winde, and that myne eye shall no more see pleasures:
- 8
- Yea and the eye that hath seene me, shal see me no more: for yer thou fasten thyne eye vpon me, I come to naught.
- 9
- The cloude is consumed and vanished away: so he that goeth downe to the graue shall come no more vp,
- 10
- Nor turne againe into his house, neither shall his place knowe him any more.
- 11
- Therfore I wil not spare my mouth, but I will speake in the trouble of my spirite, and muse in the bitternesse of my mynde.
- 12
- Am I a sea or a whale fish, that thou kepest me [so] in prison?
- 13
- When I say, My bed shal comfort me, I shall haue some refreshing by talking to my selfe vpon my couch:
- 14
- Then fearest thou me with dreames, & makest me so afrayde through visions,
- 15
- That my soule wisheth rather to perishe and die, then my bones to remayne.
- 16
- I can see no remedy, I shall liue no more: O spare me then, for my dayes are but vanitie.
- 17
- What is man that thou doest magnifie him?
and that thou settest thy heart vpon him?
- 18
- Thou visitest him early and euery day, euery moment doest thou trie him.
- 19
- Why goest thou not fro me, nor lettest me alone, so long till I may swalowe downe my spyttle?
- 20
- I haue offended, what shall I do vnto the, O thou preseruer of men?
Why hast thou set me [as a marke] against thee, so that I am a burden to my selfe?
- 21
- Why doest thou not pardon my trespasses, and take away myne iniquitie?
Behold, nowe must I sleepe in the dust, and if thou sekest me to morowe in the morning, I shal not be.
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