Job 7
1 Is not the life of man upon earth a state of trial? and his existence as that of a hireling by the day?
“Isn’t a man forced to labour on earth? Aren’t his days like the days of a hired hand?
2 Or as a servant that fears his master, and one who has grasped a shadow? or as a hireling waiting for his pay?
As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling who looks for his wages,
3 So have I also endured months of vanity, and nights of pain have been appointed me.
so I am made to possess months of misery, wearisome nights are appointed to me.
4 Whenever I lie down, I say, When [will it be] day? and whenever I rise up, again [I say] when [will it be] evening? and I am full of pains from evening to morning.
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.
5 And my body is covered with loathsome worms; and I waste away, scraping off clods of dust from my eruption.
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.
6 And my life is lighter than a word, and has perished in vain hope.
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7 Remember then that my life is breath, and mine eye shall not yet again see good.
Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye will no more see good.
8 The eye of him that sees me shall not see me [again]: your eyes are upon me, and I am no more.
The eye of him who sees me will see me no more. Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.
9 [I am] as a cloud that is cleared away from the sky: for if a man go down to the grave, he shall not come up again: (Sheol h7585)
As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol will come up no more. (Sheol h7585)
10 and he shall surely not return to his own house, neither shall his place know him any more.
He will return no more to his house, neither will his place know him any more.
11 Then neither will I refrain my mouth: I will speak being in distress; being in anguish I will disclose the bitterness of my soul.
“Therefore I will not keep silent. 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 serpent, that you have set a watch over me?
Am I a sea, or a sea monster, that you put a guard over me?
13 I said that my bed should comfort me, and I would privately counsel with myself on my couch.
When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me. My couch will ease my complaint,’
14 You scare me with dreams, and do terrify me with visions.
then you scare me with dreams and terrify me through visions,
15 You will separate life from my spirit; and yet [keep] my bones from death.
so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than my bones.
16 For I shall not live for ever, that I should patiently endure: depart from me, for my life [is] vain.
I loathe my life. I don’t want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
17 For what is man, that you have magnified him? or that you give heed to him?
What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,
18 Will you visit him till the morning, and judge him till [the time of] rest?
that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?
19 How long do you not let me alone, nor let me go, until I shall swallow down my spittle?
How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?
20 If I have sinned, what shall I be able to do, O you that understand the mind of men? why have you made me as your accuser, and [why] am I a burden to you?
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?
21 Why have you not forgotten my iniquity, and purged my sin? but now I shall depart to the earth; and in the morning I am no more.
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.”
