Job 7
1 Is there not an appointed time to man vpon earth? and are not his dayes as the dayes of an hyreling?
“Is not man consigned to labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired hand?
2 As a seruant longeth for the shadowe, and as an hyreling looketh for the ende of his worke,
Like a slave he longs for shade; like a hireling he waits for his wages.
3 So haue I had as an inheritance the moneths of vanitie, and painefull nights haue bene appointed vnto me.
So I am allotted months of futility, and nights of misery are appointed me.
4 If I layed me downe, I sayde, When shall I arise? and measuring the euening I am euen full with tossing to and from vnto the dawning of the day.
When I lie down I think: ‘When will I get up?’ But the night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.
5 My flesh is clothed with wormes and filthinesse of the dust: my skinne is rent, and become horrible.
My flesh is clothed with worms and encrusted with dirt; my skin is cracked and festering.
6 My dayes are swifter then a weauers shittle, and they are spent without hope.
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope.
7 Remember that my life is but a wind, and that mine eye shall not returne to see pleasure.
Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see happiness.
8 The eye that hath seene me, shall see me no more: thine eyes are vpon me, and I shall be no longer.
The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. You will look for me, but I will be no more.
9 As the cloude vanisheth and goeth away, so he that goeth downe to the graue, shall come vp no more. (Sheol h7585)
As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up. (Sheol h7585)
10 He shall returne no more to his house, neither shall his place knowe him any more.
He never returns to his house; his place remembers him no more.
11 Therefore I will not spare my mouth, but will speake in the trouble of my spirite, and muse in the bitternesse of my minde.
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.
12 Am I a sea or a whalefish, that thou keepest me in warde?
Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that You must keep me under guard?
13 When I say, My couch shall relieue me, and my bed shall bring comfort in my meditation,
When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,
14 Then fearest thou me with dreames, and astonishest me with visions.
then You frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions,
15 Therefore my soule chuseth rather to be strangled and to die, then to be in my bones.
so that I would prefer strangling and death over my life in this body.
16 I abhorre it, I shall not liue alway: spare me then, for my dayes are but vanitie.
I loathe my life! I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
17 What is man, that thou doest magnifie him, and that thou settest thine heart vpon him?
What is man that You should exalt him, that You should set Your heart upon him,
18 And doest visite him euery morning, and tryest him euery moment?
that You attend to him every morning, and test him every moment?
19 Howe long will it be yer thou depart from me? thou wilt not let me alone whiles I may swallowe my spettle.
Will You never look away from me, or leave me alone to swallow my spittle?
20 I haue sinned, what shall I do vnto thee? O thou preseruer of me, why hast thou set me as a marke against thee, so that I am a burden vnto my selfe?
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?
21 And why doest thou not pardon my trespasse? and take away mine iniquitie? for nowe shall I sleepe in the dust, and if thou seekest me in the morning, I shall not be found.
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.”
