Job 7
1 “Is not man consigned to labor on earth? Are not his days like those 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 Like a slave he longs for shade; like a hireling he waits for his wages.
As a servant eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hired laborer hopeth for his reward:
3 So I am allotted months of futility, and nights of misery are appointed 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 think: ‘When will I get up?’ But the night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.
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 encrusted with dirt; my skin is cracked and festering.
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; they come to an end 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 Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see happiness.
Oh remember that nothing but a breath is my life; that my eye will not again see happiness;
8 The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. You will look for me, but I will be no more.
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 a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up. (Sheol h7585)
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 never returns to his house; his place remembers him no more.
He will return no more to his house, and his place will not recognize him any more.
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.
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 the sea, or the monster of the deep, that You must keep me under guard?
Am I a sea, or a monster, that thou settest a watch over me?
13 When I think my bed will comfort me and 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 frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions,
Then wouldst thou frighten me with dreams, and with visions wouldst thou terrify me;
15 so that I would prefer strangling and death over my life in this body.
So that my soul would choose strangling, death rather than these limbs of mine.
16 I loathe my life! I would not 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 exalt him, that You should set Your heart upon him,
What is the mortal, that thou shouldst make him great? and that thou shouldst direct thy heart toward him?
18 that You attend to him every morning, and test him every moment?
And that thou shouldst visit him every morning, probe him every moment?
19 Will You never look away from me, or leave me alone to swallow 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 have I done to You, O watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, so that I am a burden to You?
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 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.”
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.
