Job 7
1 Is there not an appointed time to man vpon earth? and are not his dayes as the dayes of an hyreling?
“People need to work hard on this earth, like soldiers do; all during the time that we are alive, we work hard [RHQ], like laborers/servants do.
2 As a seruant longeth for the shadowe, and as an hyreling looketh for the ende of his worke,
We are like [SIM] slaves who keep wanting to be in the cool shade, and we are like [SIM] workers who are waiting to be paid.
3 So haue I had as an inheritance the moneths of vanitie, and painefull nights haue bene appointed vnto me.
God has given me many months [in which I think that it is] useless [to remain alive]; he has allotted/given to me many nights during which I feel miserable.
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 [at night] I say, ‘How long will it be until morning?’ But nights are long, and I (toss/turn over and over) [on my bed] until dawn.
5 My flesh is clothed with wormes and filthinesse of the dust: my skinne is rent, and become horrible.
My body is covered with maggots and scabs; pus oozes out of my open sores.
6 My dayes are swifter then a weauers shittle, and they are spent without hope.
My days pass as quickly as a weaver’s (shuttle/stick that takes the thread back and forth), and they end without my confidently expecting [that things will be better the next day].
7 Remember that my life is but a wind, and that mine eye shall not returne to see pleasure.
God, do not forget that my life is [as short as] a breath [MET]; I [think that] I [SYN] will never again be happy.
8 The eye that hath seene me, shall see me no more: thine eyes are vpon me, and I shall be no longer.
God, you [SYN] see me now, but [some day] you will not see me any more. You will search for me, but I will be gone [because I will be dead].
9 As the cloude vanisheth and goeth away, so he that goeth downe to the graue, shall come vp no more. (Sheol h7585)
Like [SIM] clouds (disperse/break up) and then disappear, people [die and] descend to the place where dead people are, and they do not return; (Sheol h7585)
10 He shall returne no more to his house, neither shall his place knowe him any more.
they never return to their houses, and people among whom they lived do not remember them 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.
So, I will not be silent; while I am suffering I will speak; I will complain [to God about what has happened to me] because I [SYN] am very angry.
12 Am I a sea or a whalefish, that thou keepest me in warde?
[God, ] why do you watch closely what I am doing? [Do you think that] I am a [dangerous] sea monster?
13 When I say, My couch shall relieue me, and my bed shall bring comfort in my meditation,
When [I lie down at night, ] I think, ‘I will be comforted here on my bed; my pain will be less while I am sleeping.’
14 Then fearest thou me with dreames, and astonishest me with visions.
But then you give me dreams that cause me to be afraid; you give me visions that terrify me,
15 Therefore my soule chuseth rather to be strangled and to die, then to be in my bones.
with the result that I would prefer to be strangled to death than to continue to [be alive] being only a bunch of bones.
16 I abhorre it, I shall not liue alway: spare me then, for my dayes are but vanitie.
I detest continuing to be alive; I do not want to live for many years [HYP]. Allow me to be alone, [because I will be alive] for only a very short remaining time [HYP].
17 What is man, that thou doest magnifie him, and that thou settest thine heart vpon him?
“We human beings are not [very important]; so, why do you pay a lot of attention to us [DOU]?
18 And doest visite him euery morning, and tryest him euery moment?
You look at us every morning [to see what we are doing], and examine us every moment [to see if we are doing what is right].
19 Howe long will it be yer thou depart from me? thou wilt not let me alone whiles I may swallowe my spettle.
(When will you stop looking at me and leave me alone [for a little time], long enough to swallow my spit?/Please stop looking at me and leave me alone [for a little time], long enough to swallow my spit.) [RHQ]
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?
[Why do] you watch me constantly? If I sin, that certainly does not harm you! Why have you set me up like a target to shoot at? Do you consider me to be a heavy load that you are forced to carry?
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.
[If I have sinned, ] are you not able to forgive me for my sins— the things that I have done that are wrong? Soon I will lie in my grave; you will search for me, but [you will not find me because] I will be [dead and] gone.”
