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 there not warfare to man on earth? And his days as the days of a hired worker?

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

As a servant desires the shadow, And as a hired worker expects his wage,

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

So I have been caused to inherit months of vanity, And they numbered nights of misery to 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.

If I lay down, then I have said, When do I rise, And evening has been measured? And I have been full of tossings until dawn.

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

My flesh has been clothed [with] worms, And a clod of dust, My skin has been shriveled and is loathsome,

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

My days swifter than a loom, And they are consumed 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] a breath, My eye does not turn back to 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 my beholder does not behold me. Your eyes [are] on me—and I am not.

9 As the cloude vanisheth and goeth away, so he that goeth downe to the graue, shall come vp no more. (Sheol h7585)

A cloud has been consumed, and it goes, So he who is going down to Sheol does not come up. (Sheol h7585)

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

He does not turn to his house again, Nor does his place discern him again.

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.

Also I do not withhold my mouth—I speak in the distress of my spirit, I talk in the bitterness of my soul.

12 Am I a sea or a whalefish, that thou keepest me in warde?

Am I a sea [monster], or a dragon, That You set a watch over me?

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

When I said, My bed comforts me, In my talking He takes away my couch.

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

And You have frightened me with dreams, And You terrify me from visions,

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

And my soul chooses strangling, Death rather than my bones.

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

I have wasted away—I do not live for all time. Cease from me, for my days [are] vanity.

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

What [is] man that You magnify him? And that You set Your heart to him?

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

And inspect him in the mornings, [And] in the evenings try him?

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 look from me? You do not desist until I 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?

I have sinned, what do I do to You, O watcher of man? Why have You set me for a mark to You, And I am for a burden to myself—and what?

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.

You do not take away my transgression, And [do not] cause my iniquity to pass away, Because now, I lie down in dust, And You have sought me—and I am not!”