17 “What is mankind that you make so much of them,

that you give them so much attention,

18 that you examine them every morning

and test them every moment?

19 Will you never look away from me,

or let me alone even for an instant?

20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you,

you who sees everything we do?

Why have you made me your target?

Have I become a burden to you?

21 Why do you not pardon my offenses

and forgive my sins?

For I will soon lie down in the dust;

you will search for me, but I will be no more.”

17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? And that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? 18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, And try him every moment? 19 How long wilt thou not depart from me, Nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? 20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? Why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, So that I am a burden to myself? 21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, And take away mine iniquity? For now shall I sleep in the dust; And thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

17 “What are people, that you should make so much of us,

that you should think of us so often?

18 For you examine us every morning

and test us every moment.

19 Why won’t you leave me alone,

at least long enough for me to swallow!

20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you,

O watcher of all humanity?

Why make me your target?

Am I a burden to you?

21 Why not just forgive my sin

and take away my guilt?

For soon I will lie down in the dust and die.

When you look for me, I will be gone.”

17 “What is man, that You should exalt him,

That You should set Your heart on him,

18 That You should visit him every morning,

And test him every moment?

19 How long?

Will You not look away from me,

And let me alone till I swallow my saliva?

20 Have I sinned?

What have I done to You, O watcher of men?

Why have You set me as Your target,

So that I am a burden to myself?

21 Why then do You not pardon my transgression,

And take away my iniquity?

For now I will lie down in the dust,

And You will seek me diligently,

But I will no longer be.”

17 “Why do you make people so important

and give them so much attention?

18 You examine them every morning

and test them every moment.

19 Will you never look away from me

or leave me alone even long enough to swallow?

20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you,

you watcher of humans?

Why have you made me your target?

Have I become a heavy load for you?

21 Why don’t you pardon my wrongs

and forgive my sins?

I will soon lie down in the dust of death.

Then you will search for me, but I will be no more.”

17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him,

And that thou shouldest set thy mind upon him,

18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning,

And try him every moment?

19 How long wilt thou not look away from me,

Nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

20 If I have sinned, what do I unto thee, O thou watcher of men?

Why hast thou set me as a mark for thee,

So that I am a burden to myself?

21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity?

For now shall I lie down in the dust;

And thou wilt seek me diligently, but I shall not be.

17 What is man, that thou makest much of him? and that thou settest thy heart upon him? 18 And that thou visitest him every morning, triest him every moment? 19 How long wilt thou not look away from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? 20 Have I sinned, what do I unto thee, thou Observer of men? Why hast thou set me as an object of assault for thee, so that I am become a burden to myself? 21 And why dost not thou forgive my transgression and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I lie down in the dust, and thou shalt seek me early, and I shall not be.

17 “What is a mortal that you should make so much of him, 

that you should be concerned about him? 

18 ⸤What is he⸥ that you should inspect him every morning 

and examine him every moment? 

19 Why don’t you stop looking at me 

long enough to let me swallow my spit? 

20 If I sin, what can I ⸤possibly⸥ do to you 

since you insist on spying on people? 

Why do you make me your target? 

I’ve become a burden even to myself. 

21 Why don’t you forgive my disobedience 

and take away my sin? 

Soon I’ll lie down in the dust. 

Then you will search for me, but I’ll be gone!” 

17 What is man, that You think so highly of him

and pay so much attention to him?

18 You inspect him every morning,

and put him to the test every moment.

19 Will You ever look away from me,

or leave me alone long enough to swallow?

20 If I have sinned, what have I done to You,

Watcher of mankind?

Why have You made me Your target,

so that I have become a burden to You?

21 Why not forgive my sin

and pardon my transgression?

For soon I will lie down in the grave.

You will eagerly seek me, but I will be gone.

17 What are human beings, that you make so much of them,

that you set your mind on them,

18 visit them every morning,

test them every moment?

19 Will you not look away from me for a while,

let me alone until I swallow my spittle?

20 If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of humanity?

Why have you made me your target?

Why have I become a burden to you?

21 Why do you not pardon my transgression

and take away my iniquity?

For now I shall lie in the earth;

you will seek me, but I shall not be.”

17 “What is a human being that you make him great

and that you fix your mind on him,

18 so that you visit him every morning,

you test him every moment?

19 How long will you not turn away from me?

Or not leave me alone until I swallow my spit?

20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you, watcher of humanity?

Why have you made me as a target for yourself,

so that I have become a burden to myself?

21 And why do you not pardon my transgression

and take away my guilt?

For now I shall lie in the dust,

and you will seek me, but I will be no more.”

17 “What are human beings that you think so much of them?

What are they that you pay so much attention to them?

18 You check up on them every morning.

You put them to the test every moment.

19 Won’t you ever look away from me?

Won’t you leave me alone even for one second?

20 If I’ve really sinned, tell me what I’ve done to you.

Why do you watch people so closely?

Why do you shoot your arrows at me?

Have I become a problem to you?

21 Why don’t you forgive the wrong things I’ve done?

Why don’t you forgive me for my sins?

I’ll soon lie down in the dust of my grave.

You will search for me. But I’ll be gone.”

17 “What is man that You magnify him,

And that You are concerned about him,

18 That You examine him every morning

And try him every moment?

19 “Will You never turn Your gaze away from me,

Nor let me alone until I swallow my spittle?

20 “Have I sinned? What have I done to You,

O watcher of men?

Why have You set me as Your target,

So that I am a burden to myself?

21 “Why then do You not pardon my transgression

And take away my iniquity?

For now I will lie down in the dust;

And You will seek me, but I will not be.”