1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling? 2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work: 3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me. 4 When 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. 5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome. 6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.

7 O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good. 8 The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not. 9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. 10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more. 11 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. 12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me? 13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint; 14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions: 15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life. 16 I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.

17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? 18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment? 19 How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? 20 I 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? 21 And 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 Het die mens nie 'n stryd op die aarde nie? En is sy dae nie soos die dae van 'n dagloner nie?

2 Soos 'n slaaf wat hyg na die skaduwee, en soos 'n dagloner wat wag op sy werkloon,

3 so het ek erfgenaam geword van maande van teleurstelling en is nagte van moeite vir my bestem.

4 As ek gaan lê, dink ek: Wanneer sal ek opstaan? Maar die aand is lank, en ek word sat van al die omdraai tot die môre skemering toe.

5 My vlees is bekleed met wurms en stofklonte; my vel trek opmekaar en etter dan weer.

6 My dae is vinniger as 'n wewerspoel en verdwyn sonder verwagting.

7 Bedink tog dat my lewe wind is; my oog sal die voorspoed nie weer sien nie.

8 Die oog van hom wat my sien, sal my nie meer aanskou nie. U oë is op my -- en ek is daar nie!

9 Die wolk verdwyn en gaan heen -- so kom hy nie weer op wat na die doderyk neerdaal nie.

10 Hy sal nie meer teruggaan na sy huis nie, en sy plek sal hom nie meer ken nie.

11 So wil dan ook ,k my mond nie hou nie, ek wil spreek in die benoudheid van my gees, ek wil klae in die bitterheid van my siel.

12 Is ek 'n see, of 'n groot seedier, dat U 'n wag teen my opstel?

13 As ek sê: My bed sal my troos, my slaapplek sal my klagte help dra,

14 dan verskrik U my deur drome en ontstel my deur gesigte,

15 sodat ek die verwurging verkies, die dood meer as hierdie geraamte van my.

16 Ek verfoei my lewe. Nie vir altyd sal ek lewe nie: laat my met rus, want my dae is nietigheid.

17 Wat is die mens, dat U hom so hoog stel en dat U op hom ag gee?

18 En dat U hom elke môre soek, elke oomblik hom op die proef stel?

19 Hoe lank sal U nie van my af wegkyk nie, my nie laat staan nie, totdat ek my speeksel insluk?

20 As ek gesondig het, wat doen ek U aan, o Mensebewaker? Waarom het U my as mikpunt vir U opgestel, sodat ek myself tot 'n las is?

21 En waarom vergeef U nie my oortreding en neem my ongeregtigheid nie weg nie? Want weldra sal ek in die stof lê; dan sal U my soek, maar ek sal daar nie wees nie.