Job 7
1 “Is not a man forced to labor on earth? Are not his days like the days of a hired hand?
Is there not a limited time of service to a mortal upon the earth? Are not his days also like the days of a hired laborer?
2 As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling who looks for his wages,
As a servant eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hired laborer hopeth for his reward:
3 so I am made to possess months of misery, wearisome nights are appointed to me.
So was I compelled to possess months of vanity, and nights of trouble were counted out unto me.
4 When I lie down, I say, ‘When will I arise, and the night be gone?’ I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.
When I He down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am wearied with tossings about till the dawn of day.
5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.
My flesh is covered with worms and clods of dust: my skin is burst open, and become loathsome.
6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.
My days hasten away more swiftly than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end in the absence of hope.
7 Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye will no more see good.
Oh remember that nothing but a breath is my life; that my eye will not again see happiness;
8 The eye of him who sees me will see me no more. Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.
The eye of him that seeth me now will not behold me again: [thou fixest] thy eyes upon me, and I am no more.
9 As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol (Sheol h7585) will come up no more.
As the cloud vanisheth and passeth away: so will he that goeth down to the nether world not come up again. (Sheol h7585)
10 He will return no more to his house, neither will his place know him any more.
He will return no more to his house, and his place will not recognize him any more.
11 “Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
Therefore will I also not restrain my mouth: I will speak in the anguish of my spirit: I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I a sea, or a sea monster, that you put a guard over me?
Am I a sea, or a monster, that thou settest a watch over me?
13 When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me. My couch will ease my complaint,’
For should I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall help me bear my complaint:
14 then you scare me with dreams and terrify me through visions,
Then wouldst thou frighten me with dreams, and with visions wouldst thou terrify me;
15 so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than my bones.
So that my soul would choose strangling, death rather than these limbs of mine.
16 I loathe my life. I do not want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
I loathe it; I cannot live for ever: let me alone; for my days are but nought.
17 What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,
What is the mortal, that thou shouldst make him great? and that thou shouldst direct thy heart toward him?
18 that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?
And that thou shouldst visit him every morning, probe him every moment?
19 How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?
How long wilt thou not turn thy regard from me, nor let; me loose till I swallow down my spittle?
20 If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself?
If I have sinned, what [injury] can I cause unto thee, O thou Guardian of men? why hast thou set me as an object for thee to strike at, so that I am become a burden to myself?
21 Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now will I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I will not be.”
And why wilt thou not forgive my transgression, and let my iniquity pass away? for soon must I lie down in the dust; and thou wilt seek for me, but I shall be no more.
