7:1 人生在世，岂不象服兵役﹖人的岁月，岂不象佣工的时日﹖
Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery? Are not his days those of a hireling? 7:2 有如奴工切望阴凉，佣工期待工资：
He is a slave who longs for the shade, a hireling who waits for his wages. 7:3 这样，我也只有承受失意的岁月，为我注定的苦痛长夜。
So I have been assigned months of misery, and troubled nights have been told off for me. 7:4 我卧下时说：「几时天亮﹖」我起来时又说：「何时到黑夜﹖」我整夜辗转反侧，直到天亮。
If in bed I say, "When shall I arise?" then the night drags on; I am filled with restlessness until the dawn. 7:5 我的肉身以蛆虫与泥皮为衣，我的皮肤破裂流脓。
My flesh is clothed with worms and scabs; my skin cracks and festers; 7:6 我的日月速于织梭，也因无希望而中断。
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope. 7:7 请你记住：我的生命无非是一口气，我的眼再也见不到幸福。
Remember that my life is like the wind; I shall not see happiness again. 7:8 注目于我的，再也见不到我；你的眼看我时、我已不在了。
The eye that now sees me shall no more behold me; as you look at me, I shall be gone. 7:9 他去了，好象云消雾散；下到阴府的，再也不得上来，
As a cloud dissolves and vanishes, so he who goes down to the nether world shall come up no more. 7:10 不再回家，本乡也不认识他。
He shall not again return to his house; his place shall know him no more. 7:11 为此，我不能再闭口不言，我要吐露我心灵的忧愁，陈述我灵魂的苦楚。
My own utterance I will not restrain; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. 7:12 我岂是海洋或海怪﹖你竟派遣警卫把守我。
Am I the sea, or a monster of the deep, that you place a watch over me? Why have you set me up as an object of attack; or why should I be a target for you? 7:13 我若想：「我的床榻会宽慰我，我的卧铺会减轻我的痛苦。」
When I say, "My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint," 7:14 你就以噩梦扰乱我，以异象惊吓我。
Then you affright me with dreams and with visions terrify me, 7:15 我的心灵宁愿窒息，宁死不愿受此痛苦。
So that I should prefer choking and death rather than my pains. 7:16 我已筋疲力尽，活不下去。任凭我去罢!因为我的日月仅是一口气。
I waste away: I cannot live forever; let me alone, for my days are but a breath. 7:17 人算什么，你竟如此显扬他，将他置诸心头，
What is man, that you make much of him, or pay him any heed? 7:18 天天早晨看护他，时刻不断考察他﹖
You observe him with each new day and try him at every moment! 7:19 你到何时才不注视我，而让我轻松咽一下唾沫﹖
How long will it be before you look away from me, and let me alone long enough to swallow my spittle? 7:20 监察人者啊!我犯罪与你何干﹖为何叫我当你的箭靶，使我成为你的重担？
Though I have sinned, what can I do to you, O watcher of men? 7:21 为何你不肯容忍我的过错，宽赦我的罪恶﹖不久我将卧在尘土中，任你寻找我，我已不在了。
Why do you not pardon my offense, or take away my guilt? For soon I shall lie down in the dust; and should you seek me I shall then be gone.