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v1
“Does not a human being ^[Or a collective singular, “human beings”] have hard service ^[Literally “hard service for a human being”] on earth? And are not his ^[Or a collective singular, “their”] days like the days of a laborer?
v2
Like a slave he longs for the shadow, and like a laborer he waits for his wages.
v3
So I had to inherit ^[Literally “I am allotted to me”] months of worthlessness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me.
v4
When I lie down, I say, ^[Hebrew “and I say”] ‘When shall I rise?’ But ^[Hebrew “And”] the night is long, and I have my fill of tossing until dawn.
v5
My body is clothed with maggots and clods of dust; my skin hardens, then ^[Hebrew “and”] it gives way again.
v6
“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and they come to an end without hope. ^[Literally “with nothing hope”]
v7
Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will not return to see good.
v8
The eye of the one seeing me will not see me; your eyes are upon me, but ^[Hebrew “and”] I will be gone. ^[Literally “there is not me,” or “I am not”]
v9
A cloud vanishes, and it goes away, so he who goes down to Sheol will not come up.
v10
He does not return again to his house, and his place does not recognize him again.
v11
“Even ^[Or “I on my part”] I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in my spirit’s anguish; I will complain in my inner self’s ^[Or “soul’s”] bitterness.
v12
Am I the sea, or a sea monster, that you set a guard over me?
v13
When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me, and my couch ^[Or “bed”] will ease my complaint,‘
v14
then ^[Hebrew “and”] you terrify me with dreams, ^[Or “the dreams”] and with visions you terrify ^[Or “dishearten,” or “frighten”] me.
v15
So ^[Or “And”] my inner self ^[Or “soul”] will choose ^[Or “I will choose”] strangling— death more than my existence. ^[Literally “bones”]
v16
I loathe my life; I would not live forever; depart from me, for my days are a breath.
v17
“What is a human being that you make him great and that you fix your mind on him, ^[Literally “you set on him your heart”]
v18
so that ^[Hebrew “and”] you visit him every morning, ^[Literally “for mornings,” or “at mornings”] you test him every moment? ^[Literally “for moments,” or “at moments”]
v19
How long ^[Literally “Like what”] will you not turn away from me? Or not leave me alone until I swallow ^[Or “my swallowing”] my spit?
v20
If I have sinned, what have I done to you, watcher of humanity? Why have you made me as a target for yourself, so that ^[Hebrew “and”] I have become a burden to myself? ^[Some translations translate as “you” (e.g., ESV, NRSV, NIV, NET)]
v21
And why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my guilt? For now I shall lie in the dust, and you will seek me, but ^[Hebrew “and”] I will be no more.” ^[Literally “there is not me,” or “I am not”]