Job 7
1 Is there not an appointed time to man vpon earth? and are not his dayes as the dayes of an hyreling?
The life of a man on the earth is a battle, and his days are like the days of a hired hand.
2 As a seruant longeth for the shadowe, and as an hyreling looketh for the ende of his worke,
Just as a servant desires the shade, and just as the hired hand looks forward to the end of his work,
3 So haue I had as an inheritance the moneths of vanitie, and painefull nights haue bene appointed vnto me.
so also have I had empty months and have counted my burdensome nights.
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.
If I lie down to sleep, I will say, “When will I rise?” And next I will hope for the evening and will be filled with sorrows even until darkness.
5 My flesh is clothed with wormes and filthinesse of the dust: my skinne is rent, and become horrible.
My flesh is clothed with particles of rottenness and filth; my skin is dried up and tightened.
6 My dayes are swifter then a weauers shittle, and they are spent without hope.
My days have passed by more quickly than threads are cut by a weaver, and they have been consumed without any 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 wind, and my eye will not return to see good things.
8 The eye that hath seene me, shall see me no more: thine eyes are vpon me, and I shall be no longer.
Neither will the sight of man gaze upon me; your eyes are upon me, and I will not endure.
9 As the cloude vanisheth and goeth away, so he that goeth downe to the graue, shall come vp no more. (Sheol h7585)
Just as a cloud is consumed and passes away, so he who descends to hell will not ascend. (Sheol h7585)
10 He shall returne no more to his house, neither shall his place knowe him any more.
He will not return again to his house, nor will his own place know him any longer.
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.
And because of this, I will not restrain my mouth. I will speak in the affliction of my spirit. I will converse from the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I a sea or a whalefish, that thou keepest me in warde?
Am I an ocean or a whale, that you have encircled me in a prison?
13 When I say, My couch shall relieue me, and my bed shall bring comfort in my meditation,
If I say, “My bed will comfort me, and I will find rest, speaking with myself on my blanket,”
14 Then fearest thou me with dreames, and astonishest me with visions.
then you will frighten me with dreams, and strike dread through visions,
15 Therefore my soule chuseth rather to be strangled and to die, then to be in my bones.
so that, because of these things, my soul would choose hanging, and my bones, death.
16 I abhorre it, I shall not liue alway: spare me then, for my dayes are but vanitie.
I despair; by no means will I live any longer. Spare me, for my days are nothing.
17 What is man, that thou doest magnifie him, and that thou settest thine heart vpon him?
What is man, that you should praise him? Or why do you place your heart near him?
18 And doest visite him euery morning, and tryest him euery moment?
You visit him at dawn, and you test him unexpectedly.
19 Howe long will it be yer thou depart from me? thou wilt not let me alone whiles I may swallowe my spettle.
How long will you not spare me, nor release me to ingest my saliva?
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?
I have sinned; what should I do for you, O keeper of men? Why have you set me against you, so that I have become burdensome even to myself?
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 steal away my sin, and why do you not sweep away my iniquity? Behold, now I will sleep in the dust, and if you seek me in the morning, I will not remain.
