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 there not warfare to man on earth? And his days as the days of a hired worker?

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

As a servant desires the shadow, And as a hired worker expects his wage,

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

So I have been caused to inherit months of vanity, And they numbered nights of misery to 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.

If I lay down, then I have said, When do I rise, And evening has been measured? And I have been full of tossings until dawn.

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

My flesh has been clothed [with] worms, And a clod of dust, My skin has been shriveled and is loathsome,

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

My days swifter than a loom, And they are consumed without hope.

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

Remember that my life [is] a breath, My eye does not turn back to 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 my beholder does not behold me. Your eyes [are] on 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)

A cloud has been consumed, and it goes, So he who is going down to Sheol does not come up. (Sheol h7585)

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

He does not turn to his house again, Nor does his place discern 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.

Also I do not withhold 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 whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

Am I a sea [monster], or a dragon, That You set a watch over me?

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

When I said, My bed comforts me, In my talking He takes away my couch.

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

And You have frightened me with dreams, And You terrify me from visions,

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

And my soul chooses strangling, Death rather than my bones.

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

I have wasted away—I do not live for all time. Cease from me, for my days [are] vanity.

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

What [is] man that You magnify him? And that You set Your heart to him?

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

And inspect him in the mornings, [And] in the evenings try him?

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

How long do You not look from me? You do not desist until I swallow 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 do I do to You, O watcher of man? Why have You set me for a mark to You, And I am for a burden to myself—and what?

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].

You do not take away my transgression, And [do not] cause my iniquity to pass away, Because now, I lie down in dust, And You have sought me—and I am not!”