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- ¶ BEHOLD there is an appointed time for man upon earth, and his days are like the days of a hireling.
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- As a servant who eagerly longs for eventide, and as a hireling who looks to complete his job;
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- So have I inherited months of vanity, and wearisome nights are meted out to me.
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- When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise?
and the night seems long; when I go to rest, I toss about till the dawning of the day.
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- My flesh is covered with worms, and my body with dust;
my skin is shrunk, and falls apart.
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- My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.
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- ¶ O remember that the spirit is still alive;
even yet my eye shall again see good.
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- The eye of him who has seen me shall rejoice no more;
thine eyes are upon me, and vet I am gone.
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- As the cloud fades away and disappears, so he who descends to Sheol shall not ascend any more.
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- He shall return no more to his house, neither shall he recognize his place any more.
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- Therefore I will not restrain my mouth;
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
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- Am I a sea, or a sea monster, that thou settest a watch over me?
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- For I said that thou shalt comfort me, and I will be relieved of the pain of my sickbed.
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- And, behold, thou dost scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions;
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- Thou hast drawn my life out of destruction, and my bones out of death.
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- I am despondent;
I would not live for ever; leave me alone, for my days are vanity.
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- ¶ What is man, that thou shouldst destroy him?
And that thou shouldst think of him;
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- And that thou shouldst visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
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- How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow my spittle?
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- If I have sinned;
what have I done to thee, O thou Creator of men? Why hast thou caused me to encounter thee? Thou hast become a burden to me.
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- Until when wilt thou not forgive my transgressions and remove my iniquity?
For now I shall lie in the dust; and thou shalt seek me, but I shall be no more.
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