7 “·People have [^LDo not people have…?] a hard ·task [service] on earth,
    and their days are like those of a [^Lhired] laborer [^Chard work with little profit].
² They are like a ·slave [servant] ·wishing [^Lpanting] for the evening shadows,
    like a [^Lhired] laborer waiting to be paid.
³ But I ·am given [^Linherit] months that are ·empty [vain; futile],
    and nights of ·misery [or toil] have been ·given [^Lallotted] to me.
⁴ When I lie down, I think, ‘How long until I get up?’
    The night is long, and I toss until dawn.
⁵ My body is covered with worms and ·scabs [^Lclods of dust/dirt],
    and my skin ·is broken and full of sores [^Lcrusts over and oozes].

⁶ “My days go by faster than a weaver’s ·tool [shuttle],
    and they come to an end without hope.
⁷ Remember, God, that my life is only a breath.
    My eyes will never see happy times again.
⁸ ·Those who [^LThe eyes that] see me now will see me no more;
    you will look for me, but I will ·be gone [^Lbe no more; not exist].
⁹ As a cloud ·disappears [fades] and is gone,
    people go to ·the grave [^LSheol; ^Cthe 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 [^Lrestrain my mouth];
    I will speak out in the ·suffering [distress; ^Lpinch] of my spirit.
    I will ·complain [groan] ·because I am so unhappy [^Lin the bitterness of my soul].
¹² ·I am not [^LAm I…?] ·the sea [^LYam] or ·the sea monster [^LTannin; ^CYam 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 [^Lreject] 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 [^Lset your heart on them; ^Ccontrast 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 [^Lmy 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.”