Job 7
1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
The life of man upon earth is a warfare, and his days are like the days of a hireling.
2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:
As a servant longeth for the shade, as the hireling looketh for the end of his work;
3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
So I also have had empty months, and have numbered to myself wearisome nights.
4 When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
If I lie down to sleep, I shall say: When shall arise? and again I shall look for the evening, and shall be filled with sorrows even till darkness.
5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.
My flesh is clothed with rottenness and the filth of dust, my skin is withered and drawn together.
6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.
My days have passed more swiftly than the web is cut by the weaver, and are consumed without any hope.
7 O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.
Remember that my life is but wind, and my eyes shall not return to see good things.
8 The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.
Nor shall the sight of man behold me: thy eyes are upon me, and I shall be no more.
9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. (Sheol h7585)
As a cloud is consumed, and passeth away: so he that shall go down to hell shall not come up. (Sheol h7585)
10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
Nor shall he return my more into his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
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.
Wherefore I will not spare my month, I will speak in the affliction of my spirit: I will talk with the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?
Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou hast enclosed me in a prison?
13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;
If I say: My bed shall comfort me, and I shall be relieved speaking with myself on my couch:
14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:
Thou wilt frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions.
15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.
So that my soul rather chooseth hanging, and my bones death.
16 I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
I have done with hope, I shall now live no longer: spare me, for my days are nothing.
17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
What is a man that thou shouldst magnify him? or why dost thou set thy heart upon him?
18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
Thou visitest him early in the morning, and thou provest him suddenly.
19 How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
How long wilt thou not spare me, nor suffer me to swallow down my spittle?
20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?
I have sinned: what shall I do to thee, O keeper of men? why hast thou set me opposite to thee, and I am become burdensome to myself?
21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.
Why dost thou not remove my sin, and why dost thou not take away my iniquity? Behold now I shall sleep in the dust: and if thou seek me in the morning, I shall not be.
