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?
“Isn't life for human beings like serving a sentence of hard labor? Don't their days pass like those of a hired laborer?
2 As a servant that eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hireling that looketh for his wages;
Like some slave longing for a bit of shade, like a hired hand anxiously waiting for pay day,
3 So am I made to possess — months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
I've been given months of emptiness and nights of misery.
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.
When I go to bed I ask, ‘When shall I get up?’ But the night goes on and on, and I toss and turn until dawn.
5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin closeth up and breaketh out afresh.
My body is covered with maggots and caked in dirt; my skin is cracked, with oozing sores.
6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.
My days pass quicker than a weaver's shuttle and they come to an end without hope.
7 O remember that my life is a breath; mine eye shall no more see good.
Remember that my life is just a breath; I will not see happiness again.
8 The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; while Thine eyes are upon me, I am gone.
Those watching me won't see me anymore; your eyes will be looking for me, but I will be gone.
9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. (Sheol h7585)
When a cloud disappears, it's gone, just as anyone who goes down to Sheol does not come back up. (Sheol h7585)
10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
They will never return home, and the people they knew will forget them.
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.
So, no, I won't hold my tongue—I will speak in the agony 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 the sea or a sea monster that you have to guard me?
13 When I say: 'My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint';
If I tell myself, ‘I'll feel better if I lie down in my bed,’ or ‘it will help me to lie down on my couch,’
14 Then Thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions;
then you scare me so much with dreams and terrify me with visions
15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than these my bones.
that I would rather be strangled—I would rather die than become just a bag of bones.
16 I loathe it; I shall not live alway; let me alone; for my days are vanity.
I hate my life! I know I won't live long. Leave me alone because my life is just a breath.
17 What is man, that Thou shouldest magnify him, and that Thou shouldest set Thy heart upon him,
Why are human beings so important to you; why are you so concerned about them
18 And that Thou shouldest remember him every morning, and try him every moment?
that you inspect them every morning and test them every moment? Won't you ever stop staring at me?
19 How long wilt Thou not look away from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
Won't you ever leave me alone long enough to catch my breath?
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?
What have I done wrong? What have I done to you, Watcher of Humanity? Why have you made me your target, so that I'm a burden even 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.
If so why don't you pardon my sins, and take away my guilt? Right now I'm going to lie down in the dust, and though you will look for me, I will be gone.”
