Is not man on earth for a limited time This is what I said to you. ‘Agree and turn to me.’ because how can I be silent from crying our about my misfortune? Do you not know that the time a man has to live is limited?

and...like the days of a hireling and I—that time that is allotted to me...

As a slave who longs for the shadow As a slave, who toils all day through and longs and yearns, “When will the shadow of evening come?” And as a hireling, who hopes for his wages at eventide, because the whole day was to him for toil, and he yearns for the sunset.

So was I made to possess from Heaven months of futility and torments, that limited time that is given to man upon earth.

and they appointed wearisome nights for me from Heaven

If I would lie down at night, I would hope and say, etc.

and the evening depart When will it become light and when will the time of arising come, and when will the evening depart? [The word מדד ] is an expression of (Gen. 31:40) “and sleep was banished (ותדד).” The “mem” is a defective radical, as in מאמר, statement; משמר, watch.

And I was sated with restlessness I was sated with restlessness on my bed by day until twilight, because, due to the torments I could not sleep until the twilight of day, since my flesh was clothed with worms.

and clods of earth Clods of earth (?) Now this is the development of rust, because it is the custom of clods of earth to moisten and cause rust.

wrinkled Heb. רגע wrinkled, as in (Isa. 51:15), “Who wrinkles (רגע) the sea.” Another explanation: עוֹרִי רָגַע is an expression of resting a wave after a wave, like wrinkles (?).

My days are swifter The days of my prosperity hastened to go away.

than a weaver’s shuttle Than weaving that is done swiftly. So said Hezekiah (Isa. 38:12), “I severed, like a weaver, my life.”

without hope I no longer hope for good.

my eye will not return after death. Here Job denies the dogma of the Resurrection of the Dead.

shall see me no more The eye that wishes to see me shall see me no more after I die.

set Your eyes upon me and I will be here no longer He is addressing the Holy One, blessed be He: “Why did You have to finish me off and crush me with pains? With one look that you set Your eyes on me, I am no longer in the world.”

Neither will I restrain my mouth Since You do not desist from me, neither will I restrain my speech from complaining about Your ways.

Am I a sea that You placed sand over me as a guard?

or a sea monster A huge fish that You imprisoned in the depths of the sea, that You place this Adversary as a guard over me, to watch me lest my soul depart?

that my couch shall bear my speech The couch upon which I sleep at night will bear my trouble somewhat, and I will be able to restrain my speech.

death rather than these my bones I choose death rather than these limbs in my body.

I despised my life, because ultimately I will not live forever.

desist from me From harming me, because my days are futile and few.

that You should give him importance to pay attention to him, to visit his deeds every morning and test him every moment?

How long For what length of time will You not desist from me, like (Exod. 5:9), “and let them not turn (ישעו) to false words.” Similarly (below 14:6), “Turn away (שעה) from him and desist.”

until I swallow my spit long enough to swallow my spit.

as a mark for You As an object that a man strikes when he is angry and vents upon it the entire act of his hatred (other editions: his sin).

so that I have become a burden to myself [Etz Chayim ms: Like “and I have become a burden to You.”] This is one of the words in which Scripture euphemized, and they are known as the emendation of the scribes.

Now why do You not forgive my transgression What is this matter that You do not forgive my transgression?

and You shall seek me You shall seek me and not find me.