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 man upon earth is a warfare, and his days are like the days of a hireling.
2 As a seruant longeth for the shadowe, and as an hyreling looketh for the ende of his worke,
As a servant longeth for the shade, as the hireling looketh for 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 I also have had empty months, and have numbered to myself wearisome 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 shall say: When shall arise? and again I shall look for the evening, and shall be filled with sorrows even till 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 rottenness and the filth of dust, my skin is withered and drawn together.
6 My dayes are swifter then a weauers shittle, and they are spent without hope.
My days have passed more swiftly than the web is cut by the weaver, and are 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 but wind, and my eyes shall 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.
Nor shall the sight of man behold me: thy eyes are upon me, and I shall 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 is consumed, and passeth away: so he that shall go down to hell shall not come up. (Sheol h7585)
10 He shall returne no more to his house, neither shall his place knowe him any more.
Nor shall he return my more into his house, neither shall his place know him any 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.
Wherefore I will not spare my month, I will speak in the affliction of my spirit: I will talk with the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I a sea or a whalefish, that thou keepest me in warde?
Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou hast enclosed 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 shall comfort me, and I shall be relieved speaking with myself on my couch:
14 Then fearest thou me with dreames, and astonishest me with visions.
Thou wilt 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 my soul rather chooseth hanging, and my bones death.
16 I abhorre it, I shall not liue alway: spare me then, for my dayes are but vanitie.
I have done with hope, I shall now live no 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 a man that thou shouldst magnify him? or why dost thou set thy heart upon him?
18 And doest visite him euery morning, and tryest him euery moment?
Thou visitest him early in the morning, and thou provest him suddenly.
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 wilt thou not spare me, nor suffer me to swallow down 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?
I have sinned: what shall I do to thee, O keeper of men? why hast thou set me opposite to thee, and I am become burdensome 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 dost thou not remove my sin, and why dost thou not take away my iniquity? Behold now I shall sleep in the dust: and if thou seek me in the morning, I shall not be.
