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“·People have [L Do not people have…?] a hard ·task [service] on earth,
    and their days are like those of a [L hired] laborer [C hard work with little profit].
They are like a ·slave [servant] ·wishing [L panting] for the evening shadows,
    like a [L hired] laborer waiting to be paid.
But I ·am given [L inherit] months that are ·empty [vain; futile],
    and nights of ·misery [or toil] have been ·given [L allotted] to me.
When I lie down, I think, ‘How long until I get up?’
    The night is long, and I toss until dawn.
My body is covered with worms and ·scabs [L clods of dust/dirt],
    and my skin ·is broken and full of sores [L crusts over and oozes].

“My days go by faster than a weaver’s ·tool [shuttle],
    and they come to an end without hope.
Remember, God, that my life is only a breath.
    My eyes will never see happy times again.
·Those who [L The eyes that] see me now will see me no more;
    you will look for me, but I will ·be gone [L be no more; not exist].
As a cloud ·disappears [fades] and is gone,
    people go to ·the grave [L Sheol; C the grave or the underworld] and never return.
10 They will never come back to their houses again,
    and their places will not know them anymore.

11 “So I will not ·stay quiet [L restrain my mouth];
    I will speak out in the ·suffering [distress; L pinch] of my spirit.
    I will ·complain [groan] ·because I am so unhappy [L in the bitterness of my soul].
12 ·I am not [L Am I…?] ·the sea [L Yam] or ·the sea monster [L Tannin; C Yam and Tannin are legendary sea monsters representing chaos].
    ·So why have you […that you] set a guard over me?
13 Sometimes I think my bed will comfort me
    or that my couch will ·stop my complaint [ease my groans].
14 Then you ·frighten [terrorize] me with dreams
    and ·terrify [scare] me with visions.
15 My throat prefers to be choked;
    my bones welcome death.
16 I ·hate [L reject] my life; I don’t want to live forever.
    Leave me alone, because my days have no meaning.

17 “Why do you make people so important
    and ·give them so much attention [L set your heart on them; C contrast Ps. 8:4]?
18 You ·examine [visit] them every morning
    and test them ·every moment [all the time].
19 Will you never look away from me
    or leave me alone even long enough to swallow [L my saliva]?
20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you,
    you watcher of humans?
Why have you made me your target?
    Have I become a ·heavy load [burden] for you?
21 Why don’t you ·pardon [forgive] my ·wrongs [transgressions]
    and ·forgive my sins [carry away my guilt]?
I will soon lie down in the dust of death.
    Then you will ·search [look] for me, but I will be no more.”

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