1 Is not the life of man upon earth a very battle? Are not his days like the days of a hired servant?
1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
1 "Men have harsh servitude on earth, do they not? His days are like those of a hired laborer, are they not?
2 For like as a bond servant desireth the shadow, and as a hireling would fain have an end of his work:
2 “As a slave who pants for the shade,And as a hired man who eagerly waits for his wages,
2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:
2 Like a slave he longs for shade;like a hired man he waits for his pay.
2 I'm like a servant who longs for the shade, like a hired laborer who is looking for his wages.
3 Even so have I laboured whole months long - but in vain - and many a careful night have I told.
3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
3 So I have been made to inherit months of futility,and troubled nights have been assigned to me.(B)
3 Truly I've been allotted months of emptiness; nights of trouble have been appointed for me.
4 When I laid me down to sleep, I said, 'O when shall I rise?' Again, I longed sore for the night. Thus am I full of sorrow, till it be dark.
4 “When I (D)lie down I say,‘When shall I arise?’But the night continues,And I am (b)continually tossing until dawn.
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.
4 When I lie down I think:When will I get up?But the evening drags on endlessly,and I toss and turn until dawn.
4 "When I lie down I ask, "When will I wake up?' But the night continues and I keep tossing and turning until dawn.
5 My flesh is clothed with worms, filthiness and dust; my skin is withered, and crumpled together;
5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.
5 My flesh is clothed with maggots and encrusted with dirt.(a)My skin forms scabs(b) and then oozes.(C)
5 My skin is covered with worms and clods of dirt; my skin becomes rough and then breaks out afresh.
8 yea, and that none other man's eye shall see me anymore.
8 “The (J)eye of him who sees me will behold me no longer;Your eyes will be on me, but (K)I will not be.
8 The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.
8 The eye of anyone who looks on mewill no longer see me.Your eyes will look for me, but I will be gone.(F)
8 The eyes of the one who sees me won't see me anymore; your eyes will look for me but I won't be around!
9 For if thou fasten thine eyes upon me, I come to naught like as a cloud is consumed and vanisheth away. Even so, he that goeth down to hell, cometh no more up,
9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.
9 As a cloud fades away and vanishes, the one who descends to the afterlife doesn't return.
11 Therefore I will not spare my mouth, but will speak in the trouble of my spirit; in that bitterness of my mind will I talk.
11 “Therefore (P)I will not restrain my mouth;I will speak in the anguish of my spirit,I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
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.
11 Therefore I will not restrain my mouth.I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
11 "In addition, I won't keep my opinion to myself; I'll speak from my distressed spirit; I'll complain with my bitter soul.
13 When I think, 'My bed shall comfort me; I shall have some refreshing by talking to myself upon my couch,'
13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;
13 When I say: My bed will comfort me,and my couch will ease my complaint,
13 For I've said, "My bed will comfort me; my couch will ease my burdens while I complain.'
20 I have offended; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? Why hast thou made me to stand in thy way, and am so heavy a burden unto myself?
20 “(X)Have I sinned? What have I done to You,O (Y)watcher of men?Why have You set me as Your target,So that I am a burden to myself?
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?
20 If I have sinned, what have I done to You,Watcher of mankind?Why have You made me Your target,(P)so that I have become a burden to You?(i)
20 So what if I sin? What have I done against you, you observer of humankind? Why have you made me your target? Why burden yourself with me?
21 Why dost thou not forgive my sin? Wherefore takest thou not away my wickedness? Behold, now must I sleep in the dust: And if thou seekest me tomorrow in the morning, I shall be gone."
21 “Why then (Z)do You not pardon my transgressionAnd take away my iniquity?For now I will (AA)lie down in the dust;And You will seek me, (AB)but I will not be.”
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.
21 Why not forgive my sinand pardon my transgression?(Q)For soon I will lie down in the grave.(R)You will eagerly seek me, but I will be gone.(S)
21 Why haven't you pardoned my transgression and taken away my iniquity? Now I'm about to lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I won't be around!"
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