66 Books

¹ Are not his days also like the days of a hired man? ² And like a hired man who eagerly looks for his wages, ³ And wearisome nights have been appointed to me. ⁴ For I have had my fill of tossing till dawn. ⁵ My skin is cracked and breaks out afresh. ⁶ And are spent without hope. ⁷ My eye will never again see good. ⁸ While your eyes are upon me, I shall no longer be. ⁹ So he who goes down to the grave does not come up. ¹⁰ Nor shall his place know him anymore. ¹¹ I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. ¹² That You set a guard over me? ¹³ My couch will ease my complaint,’ ¹⁴ And terrify me with visions, ¹⁵ And death rather than my body. ¹⁶ For my days are but a breath. ¹⁷ That You should set Your heart on him, ¹⁸ And test him every moment? ¹⁹ And let me alone till I swallow my saliva? ²⁰ So that I am a burden to myself? ²¹ But I will no longer be.”