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 the life of man upon earth a state of trial? and his existence as that of a hireling by the day?

2 As a seruant longeth for the shadowe, and as an hyreling looketh for the ende of his worke,

Or as a servant that fears his master, and one who has grasped a shadow? or as a hireling waiting for his pay?

3 So haue I had as an inheritance the moneths of vanitie, and painefull nights haue bene appointed vnto me.

So have I also endured months of vanity, and nights of pain have been 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.

Whenever I lie down, I say, When [will it be] day? and whenever I rise up, again [I say] when [will it be] evening? and I am full of pains from evening to morning.

5 My flesh is clothed with wormes and filthinesse of the dust: my skinne is rent, and become horrible.

And my body is covered with loathsome worms; and I waste away, scraping off clods of dust from my eruption.

6 My dayes are swifter then a weauers shittle, and they are spent without hope.

And my life is lighter than a word, and has perished in vain hope.

7 Remember that my life is but a wind, and that mine eye shall not returne to see pleasure.

Remember then that my life is breath, and mine eye shall not yet again see good.

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 of him that sees me shall not see me [again]: your eyes are upon me, and I am 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)

[I am] as a cloud that is cleared away from the sky: for if a man go down to the grave, he shall not come up again: (Sheol h7585)

10 He shall returne no more to his house, neither shall his place knowe him any more.

and he shall surely not return to his own 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.

Then neither will I refrain my mouth: I will speak being in distress; being in anguish I will disclose 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 serpent, that you have set a watch over me?

13 When I say, My couch shall relieue me, and my bed shall bring comfort in my meditation,

I said that my bed should comfort me, and I would privately counsel with myself on my couch.

14 Then fearest thou me with dreames, and astonishest me with visions.

You scare me with dreams, and do terrify me with visions.

15 Therefore my soule chuseth rather to be strangled and to die, then to be in my bones.

You will separate life from my spirit; and yet [keep] my bones from death.

16 I abhorre it, I shall not liue alway: spare me then, for my dayes are but vanitie.

For I shall not live for ever, that I should patiently endure: depart from me, for my life [is] vain.

17 What is man, that thou doest magnifie him, and that thou settest thine heart vpon him?

For what is man, that you have magnified him? or that you give heed to him?

18 And doest visite him euery morning, and tryest him euery moment?

Will you visit him till the morning, and judge him till [the time of] rest?

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 do you not let me alone, nor let me go, until I shall 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?

If I have sinned, what shall I be able to do, O you that understand the mind of men? why have you made me as your accuser, and [why] am I 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 have you not forgotten my iniquity, and purged my sin? but now I shall depart to the earth; and in the morning I am no more.