7:1   Human life is like forced army service, like a life of hard manual labor,

7:2   like a slave longing for cool shade; like a worker waiting to be paid.

7:3   Month after month I have nothing to live for; night after night brings me grief.

7:4   When I lie down to sleep, the hours drag; I toss all night and long for dawn.

7:5   My body is full of worms; it is covered with scabs; pus runs out of my sores.

7:6   My days pass by without hope, pass faster than a weaver's shuttle.

7:7   Remember, O God, my life is only a breath; my happiness has already ended.

7:8   You see me now, but never again. If you look for me, I'll be gone.

7:9   Like a cloud that fades and is gone, we humans die and never return; we are forgotten by all who knew us.

7:10   (SEE 7:9)

7:11   No! I can't be quiet! I am angry and bitter. I have to speak.

7:12   Why do you keep me under guard? Do you think I am a sea monster?

7:13   I lie down and try to rest; I look for relief from my pain.

7:14   But you---you terrify me with dreams; you send me visions and nightmares

7:15   until I would rather be strangled than live in this miserable body.

7:16   I give up; I am tired of living. Leave me alone. My life makes no sense.

7:17   Why are people so important to you? Why pay attention to what they do?

7:18   You inspect them every morning and test them every minute.

7:19   Won't you look away long enough for me to swallow my spit?

7:20   Are you harmed by my sin, you jailer? Why use me for your target practice? Am I so great a burden to you?

7:21   Can't you ever forgive my sin? Can't you pardon the wrong I do? Soon I will be in my grave, and I'll be gone when you look for me.