7:1  "Isn't a man forced to labor on earth? Aren't his days like the days of a hired hand?

7:2  As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, As a hireling who looks for his wages,

7:3  So am I made to possess months of misery, Wearisome nights are appointed to me.

7:4  When I lie down, I say, 'When shall I arise, and the night be gone?' I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.

7:5  My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.

7:6  My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, And are spent without hope.

7:7  Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye shall no more see good.

7:8  The eye of him who sees me shall see me no more. Your eyes shall be on me, but I shall not be.

7:9  As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, So he who goes down to Sheol shall come up no more.

7:10  He shall return no more to his house, Neither shall his place know him any more.

7:11  "Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

7:12  Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, That you put a guard over me?

7:13  When I say, 'My bed shall comfort me, My couch shall ease my complaint;'

7:14  Then you scar me with dreams, And terrify me through visions:

7:15  So that my soul chooses strangling, Death rather than my bones.

7:16  I loathe my life. I don't want to live forever. Leave me alone; for my days are but a breath.

7:17  What is man, that you should magnify him, That you should set your mind on him,

7:18  That you should visit him every morning, And test him every moment?

7:19  How long will you not look away from me, Nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?

7:20  If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, So that I am a burden to myself?

7:21  Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I shall not be."