1Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?7.1 an appointed…: or, a warfare 2As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:7.2 earnestly…: Heb. gapeth after 3So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me. 4When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.7.4 the night…: Heb. the evening be measured? 5My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome. 6My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.7.7 shall…: Heb. shall not return7.7 see: to see, that is, to enjoy 8The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.7.8 I am…: that is, I can live no longer 9As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. 10He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more. 11Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. 12Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me? 13When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint; 14Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions: 15So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.7.15 life: Heb. bones 16I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
17What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? 18And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment? 19How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? 20I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? 21And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.
1“人生在世岂不像服劳役吗？
他有生之年岂不像个雇工吗？
2他像切望阴凉的奴隶，
又如盼望报酬的雇工。
3同样，我注定要度过虚空的岁月，
熬过悲惨的黑夜。
4我躺在床上，想着何时起来。
长夜漫漫，我辗转难眠，直到拂晓。
5我身上布满蛆虫、伤疤，
皮肤破裂，流脓不止。
6我的年日飞逝，比梭还快，
转眼结束，毫无盼望。
7“上帝啊，别忘了我的生命不过是一口气，
我再也看不见幸福。
8注视我的眼睛将再也看不见我，
你将寻找我，而我已不复存在。
9人死后一去不返，
就像烟消云散；
10他永不再返回家园，
故土也不再认识他。
11“因此我不再缄默不语，
我要吐露胸中的悲愁，
倾诉心里的苦楚。
12上帝啊，我岂是大海，岂是海怪，
值得你这样防范我？
13我以为床铺是我的安慰，
卧榻可解除我的哀愁，
14你却用噩梦惊我，
用异象吓我，
15以致我宁愿窒息而死，
也不愿这样活着。
16我厌恶生命，不想永活。
不要管我，因为我的日子都是虚空。
17“人算什么，你竟这样看重他，
这样关注他？
18你天天早上察看他，
时时刻刻考验他。
19你的视线何时离开我，
给我咽口唾沫的时间？
20鉴察世人的主啊，
我若犯了罪，又于你何妨？
为何把我当成你的箭靶？
难道我成了你的重担？
21为何不赦免我的过犯，
饶恕我的罪恶？
我很快将归于尘土，
你将寻找我，
而我已不复存在。”
