< Job 7 >
1 Hath not man a life of labour upon earth? and are not his days like the days of a hireling?
Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
2 As a bondman earnestly desireth the shadow, and a hireling expecteth his wages,
As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:
3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
4 If I lie down, I say, When shall I rise up, and the darkness be gone? and I am full of tossings until the dawn.
When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and suppurates.
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.
6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7 Remember thou that my life is wind; mine eye shall no more see good.
O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.
8 The eye of him that hath seen me shall behold me no [more]: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.
The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.
9 The cloud consumeth and vanisheth away; so he that goeth down to Sheol shall not come up. (Sheol )
As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. (Sheol )
10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him again.
He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know 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 I will not refrain 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 thou settest a watch over me?
Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?
13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;
When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;
14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions;
Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:
15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, death, rather than my bones.
So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.
16 I loathe it; I shall not live always: let me alone, for my days are a breath.
I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
17 What is man, that thou makest much of him? and that thou settest thy heart upon him?
What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
18 And that thou visitest him every morning, triest him every moment?
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?
How long wilt thou not depart 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?
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 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.
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.