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 a warfare to man on earth? And as the days of an hireling his days?
2 As a seruant longeth for the shadowe, and as an hyreling looketh for the ende of his worke,
As a servant desireth the shadow, And as a hireling expecteth 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 nights of misery they numbered 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 said, 'When do I rise!' And evening hath been measured, And I have been full of tossings till dawn.
5 My flesh is clothed with wormes and filthinesse of the dust: my skinne is rent, and become horrible.
Clothed hath been my flesh [with] worms, And a clod of dust, My skin hath been shrivelled and is loathsome,
6 My dayes are swifter then a weauers shittle, and they are spent without hope.
My days swifter than a weaving machine, 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 Thou that my life [is] a breath, Mine eye turneth not 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 beholdeth me not. Thine eyes [are] upon 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)
Consumed hath been a cloud, and it goeth, So he who is going down to Sheol cometh not up. (Sheol h7585)
10 He shall returne no more to his house, neither shall his place knowe him any more.
He turneth not again to his house, Nor doth 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 — I withhold not 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?
A sea -[monster] am I, or a dragon, That thou settest over me a guard?
13 When I say, My couch shall relieue me, and my bed shall bring comfort in my meditation,
When I said, 'My bed doth comfort me,' He taketh away in my talking my couch.
14 Then fearest thou me with dreames, and astonishest me with visions.
And thou hast affrighted me with dreams, And from visions thou terrifiest me,
15 Therefore my soule chuseth rather to be strangled and to die, then to be in my bones.
And my soul chooseth 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 — not to the age do I live. 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 Thou dost magnify him? And that Thou settest unto him Thy heart?
18 And doest visite him euery morning, and tryest him euery moment?
And inspectest him in the mornings, In the evenings dost 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 dost Thou not look from me? Thou dost not desist till 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 to Thee, O watcher of man? Why hast Thou set me for a mark to Thee, 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.
Thou dost not take away my transgression, And cause to pass away mine iniquity, Because now, for dust I lie down: And Thou hast sought me — and I am not!
