Job 7

1 [Is there] not an appointed time to man upon earth? [are not] his days also like the days of an hireling?

Is not the life of man upon earth a state of trial? and his existence as that of a hireling by the day?

2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for [the reward of] his work:

Or as a servant that fears his master, and one who has grasped a shadow? or as a hireling waiting for his pay?

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

So have I also endured months of vanity, and nights of pain have been appointed me.

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.

Whenever I lie down, I say, When [will it be] day? and whenever I rise up, again [I say] when [will it be] evening? and I am full of pains from evening to morning.

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

And my body is covered with loathsome worms; and I waste away, scraping off clods of dust from my eruption.

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

And my life is lighter than a word, and has perished in vain hope.

7 O remember that my life [is] wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

Remember then that my life is breath, and mine eye shalt not yet again see good.

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

The eye of him that sees me shall not see me [again]: thine eyes are upon me, and I am 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)

[I am] as a cloud that is cleared away from the sky: for if a man go down to the grave, he shall not come up again: (Sheol h7585)

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

and he shall surely not return to his own 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.

Then neither will I refrain my mouth: I will speak being in distress; being in anguish I will disclose 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 serpent, that thou hast set a watch over me?

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

I said that my bed should comfort me, and I would privately counsel with myself on my couch.

14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:

Thou scarest me with dreams, and dost terrify me with visions.

15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, [and] death rather than my life.

Thou wilt separate life from my spirit; and yet [keep] my bones from death.

16 I loathe [it; ] I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days [are] vanity.

For I shall not live for ever, that I should patiently endure: depart from me, for my life [is] vain.

17 What [is] man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?

For what is man, that thou hast magnified him? or that thou givest heed to him?

18 And [that] thou shouldest visit him every morning, [and] try him every moment?

Wilt thou visit him till the morning, and judge him till [the time of] rest?

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

How long dost thou not let me alone, nor let me go, until I shall 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?

If I have sinned, what shall I be able to do, O thou that understandest the mind of men? why hast thou made me as thine accuser, and [why] am I a burden to thee?

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 hast thou not forgotten my iniquity, and purged my sin? but now I shall depart to the earth; and in the morning I am no more.