| Chapter 7 |
1 |
Is there not a warfare to man upon earth? And are not his days like the days of a hireling? --
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2 |
As a servant that earnestly desireth the shadow, And as a hireling that looketh for his wages: --
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3 |
So am I made to possess months of misery, And wearisome nights are appointed to me. --
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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. --
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5 |
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; My skin closeth up, and breaketh out afresh. --
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6 |
My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, And are spent without hope. --
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7 |
Oh remember that my life is a breath: Mine eye shall no more see good. --
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8 |
The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; Thine eyes shall be upon me, but I shall not be. --
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9 |
As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, So he that goeth down to Sheol shall come up no more. --
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10 |
He shall return no more to his house, Neither shall his place know him any more. --
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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. --
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12 |
Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, That thou settest a watch over me? --
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13 |
When I say, My bed shall comfort me, My couch shall ease my complaint; --
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14 |
Then thou scarest me with dreams, And terrifiest me through visions: --
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15 |
So that my soul chooseth strangling, And death rather than [these] my bones. --
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16 |
I loathe [my life]; I would not live alway: Let me alone; for my days are vanity. --
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17 |
What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him, And that thou shouldest set thy mind upon him, --
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18 |
And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, And try him every moment? --
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19 |
How long wilt thou not look away from me, Nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? --
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20 |
If I have sinned, what do I unto thee, O thou watcher of men? Why hast thou set me as a mark for thee, So that I am a burden to myself? --
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21 |
And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust; And thou wilt seek me diligently, but I shall not be. --
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