1 أليس جهاد للانسان على الارض وكايام الاجير ايامه. | 1 Is not man's life on earth a drudgery? Are not his days those of a hireling? |
2 كما يتشوّق العبد الى الظل وكما يترجّى الاجير اجرته | 2 He is a slave who longs for the shade, a hireling who waits for his wages. |
3 هكذا تعين لي اشهر سوء وليالي شقاء قسمت لي. | 3 So I have been assigned months of misery, and troubled nights have been told off for me. |
4 اذا اضطجعت اقول متى اقوم. الليل يطول واشبع قلقا حتى الصبح. | 4 If in bed I say, "When shall I arise?" then the night drags on; I am filled with restlessness until the dawn. |
5 لبس لحمي الدود مع مدر التراب. جلدي كرش وساخ. | 5 My flesh is clothed with worms and scabs; my skin cracks and festers; |
6 ايامي اسرع من الوشيعة وتنتهي بغير رجاء | 6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle; they come to an end without hope. |
7 اذكر ان حياتي انما هي ريح وعيني لا تعود ترى خيرا. | 7 Remember that my life is like the wind; I shall not see happiness again. |
8 لا تراني عين ناظري. عيناك عليّ ولست انا. | 8 The eye that now sees me shall no more behold me; as you look at me, I shall be gone. |
9 السحاب يضمحل ويزول. هكذا الذي ينزل الى الهاوية لا يصعد. | 9 As a cloud dissolves and vanishes, so he who goes down to the nether world shall come up no more. |
10 لا يرجع بعد الى بيته ولا يعرفه مكانه بعد. | 10 He shall not again return to his house; his place shall know him no more. |
11 انا ايضا لا امنع فمي. اتكلم بضيق روحي. اشكو بمرارة نفسي. | 11 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. |
12 أبحر انا ام تنين حتى جعلت عليّ حارسا. | 12 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? |
13 ان قلت فراشي يعزيني مضجعي ينزع كربتي | 13 When I say, "My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint," |
14 تريعني بالاحلام وترهبني برؤى | 14 Then you affright me with dreams and with visions terrify me, |
15 فاختارت نفسي الخنق الموت على عظامي هذه. | 15 So that I should prefer choking and death rather than my pains. |
16 قد ذبت. لا الى الابد احيا. كف عني لان ايامي نفخة. | 16 I waste away: I cannot live forever; let me alone, for my days are but a breath. |
17 ما هو الانسان حتى تعتبره وحتى تضع عليه قلبك | 17 What is man, that you make much of him, or pay him any heed? |
18 وتتعهّده كل صباح وكل لحظة تمتحنه. | 18 You observe him with each new day and try him at every moment! |
19 حتى متى لا تلتفت عني ولا ترخيني ريثما ابلع ريقي. | 19 How long will it be before you look away from me, and let me alone long enough to swallow my spittle? |
20 أأخطأت. ماذا افعل لك يا رقيب الناس. لماذا جعلتني عاثورا لنفسك حتى اكون على نفسي حملا. | 20 Though I have sinned, what can I do to you, O watcher of men? |
21 ولماذا لا تغفر ذنبي ولا تزيل اثمي لاني الآن اضطجع في التراب. تطلبني فلا اكون | 21 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. |