Job 7

1 Is there not a time of service to man upon earth? And are not his days like the days of a hireling?

Hath not man a life of labour upon earth? and are not his days like the days of a hireling?

2 As a servant that eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hireling that looketh for his wages;

As a bondman earnestly desireth the shadow, and a hireling expecteth his wages,

3 So am I made to possess — months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

4 When I lie down, I say: 'When shall I arise?' But the night is long, and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

If I lie down, I say, When shall I rise up, and the darkness be gone? and I am full of tossings until the dawn.

5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin closeth up and breaketh out afresh.

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and suppurates.

6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

7 O remember that my life is a breath; mine eye shall no more see good.

Remember thou that my life is wind; mine eye shall no more see good.

8 The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; while Thine eyes are upon me, I am gone.

The eye of him that hath seen me shall behold me no [more]: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.

9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. (Sheol h7585)

The cloud consumeth and vanisheth away; so he that goeth down to Sheol shall not come up. (Sheol h7585)

10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him again.

11 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

Therefore I will not restrain my mouth: I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

12 Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, that Thou settest a watch over me?

Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, that thou settest a watch over me?

13 When I say: 'My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint';

When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;

14 Then Thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions;

Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions;

15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than these my bones.

So that my soul chooseth strangling, death, rather than my bones.

16 I loathe it; I shall not live alway; let me alone; for my days are vanity.

I loathe it; I shall not live always: let me alone, for my days are a breath.

17 What is man, that Thou shouldest magnify him, and that Thou shouldest set Thy heart upon him,

What is man, that thou makest much of him? and that thou settest thy heart upon him?

18 And that Thou shouldest remember him every morning, and try him every moment?

And that thou visitest him every morning, triest him every moment?

19 How long wilt Thou not look away from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

How long wilt thou not look away from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

20 If I have sinned, what do I unto Thee, O Thou watcher of men? Why hast Thou set me as a mark for Thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

Have I sinned, what do I unto thee, thou Observer of men? Why hast thou set me as an object of assault for thee, so that I am become a burden to myself?

21 And why dost Thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust; and Thou wilt seek me, but I shall not be.

And why dost not thou forgive my transgression and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I lie down in the dust, and thou shalt seek me early, and I shall not be.