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 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 bondman earnestly desireth the shadow, and a hireling expecteth his wages,
As a servant eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hired laborer hopeth for his reward:
3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and 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 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 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 is broken, and suppurates.
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 Remember thou that my life is wind; mine eye shall 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 that hath seen me shall behold me no [more]: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.
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 The cloud consumeth and vanisheth away; so he that goeth down to Sheol shall not come 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 shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him again.
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 a sea, or a sea-monster, that thou settest a watch over me?
Am I a sea, or a monster, that thou settest a watch over me?
13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;
For should I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall help me bear my complaint:
14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions;
Then wouldst thou frighten me with dreams, and with visions wouldst thou terrify me;
15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, death, rather than my bones.
So that my soul would choose strangling, death rather than these limbs of mine.
16 I loathe it; I shall not live always: let me alone, for my days are a breath.
I loathe it; I cannot live for ever: let me alone; for my days are but nought.
17 What is man, that thou makest much of him? and that thou settest thy heart upon him?
What is the mortal, that thou shouldst make him great? and that thou shouldst direct thy heart toward him?
18 And that thou visitest him every morning, triest him every moment?
And that thou shouldst visit him every morning, probe 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 turn thy regard from me, nor let; me loose 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?
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 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 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.
