Job 7
1 “Is not man consigned to labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired hand?
“Isn't life for human beings like serving a sentence of hard labor? Don't their days pass like those of a hired laborer?
2 Like a slave he longs for shade; like a hireling he waits for his wages.
Like some slave longing for a bit of shade, like a hired hand anxiously waiting for pay day,
3 So I am allotted months of futility, and nights of misery are appointed me.
I've been given months of emptiness and nights of misery.
4 When I lie down I think: ‘When will I get up?’ But the night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.
When I go to bed I ask, ‘When shall I get up?’ But the night goes on and on, and I toss and turn until dawn.
5 My flesh is clothed with worms and encrusted with dirt; my skin is cracked and festering.
My body is covered with maggots and caked in dirt; my skin is cracked, with oozing sores.
6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope.
My days pass quicker than a weaver's shuttle and they come to an end without hope.
7 Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see happiness.
Remember that my life is just a breath; I will not see happiness again.
8 The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. You will look for me, but I will be no more.
Those watching me won't see me anymore; your eyes will be looking for me, but I will be gone.
9 As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up. (Sheol h7585)
When a cloud disappears, it's gone, just as anyone who goes down to Sheol does not come back up. (Sheol h7585)
10 He never returns to his house; his place remembers him no more.
They will never return home, and the people they knew will forget them.
11 Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
So, no, I won't hold my tongue—I will speak in the agony of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that You must keep me under guard?
Am I the sea or a sea monster that you have to guard me?
13 When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,
If I tell myself, ‘I'll feel better if I lie down in my bed,’ or ‘it will help me to lie down on my couch,’
14 then You frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions,
then you scare me so much with dreams and terrify me with visions
15 so that I would prefer strangling and death over my life in this body.
that I would rather be strangled—I would rather die than become just a bag of bones.
16 I loathe my life! I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
I hate my life! I know I won't live long. Leave me alone because my life is just a breath.
17 What is man that You should exalt him, that You should set Your heart upon him,
Why are human beings so important to you; why are you so concerned about them
18 that You attend to him every morning, and test him every moment?
that you inspect them every morning and test them every moment? Won't you ever stop staring at me?
19 Will You never look away from me, or leave me alone to swallow my spittle?
Won't you ever leave me alone long enough to catch my breath?
20 If I have sinned, what have I done to You, O watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, so that I am a burden to You?
What have I done wrong? What have I done to you, Watcher of Humanity? Why have you made me your target, so that I'm a burden even to myself?
21 Why do You not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For soon I will lie down in the dust; You will seek me, but I will be no more.”
If so why don't you pardon my sins, and take away my guilt? Right now I'm going to lie down in the dust, and though you will look for me, I will be gone.”
