Study Desk

"Is a person not forced to labor on earth, And are his days not like the days of a hired worker?

Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?

"As a slave pants for the shade, And as a hired worker who eagerly waits for his wages,

As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:

So I am allotted worthless months, And nights of trouble are apportioned to me.

So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

"When I lie down, I say, 'When shall I arise?' But the night continues, And I am continually tossing until dawn.

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.

"My flesh is clothed with maggots and a crust of dirt, My skin hardens and oozes.

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.