Job 7

1 Is there not a limited time of service to a mortal upon the earth? Are not his days also like the days of a hired laborer?

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 eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hired laborer hopeth for his reward:

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 was I compelled to possess months of vanity, and nights of trouble were counted out unto me.

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

4 When I He down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am wearied with tossings about till the dawn of 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 covered with worms and clods of dust: my skin is burst open, 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 hasten away more swiftly than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end in the absence of hope.

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

7 Oh remember that nothing but a breath is my life; that my eye will not again see happiness;

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

8 The eye of him that seeth me now will not behold me again: [thou fixest] thy eyes upon me, and I am no more.

The eye of him that sees me shall not see me [again]: your eyes are upon me, and I am no more.

9 As the cloud vanisheth and passeth away: so will he that goeth down to the nether world not come up again. (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 will return no more to his house, and his place will not recognize him any more.

and he shall surely not return to his own house, neither shall his place know him any more.

11 Therefore will I also not restrain 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 monster, that thou settest a watch over me?

Am I a sea, or a serpent, that you have set a watch over me?

13 For should I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall help me bear my complaint:

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

14 Then wouldst thou frighten me with dreams, and with visions wouldst thou terrify me;

You scare me with dreams, and do terrify me with visions.

15 So that my soul would choose strangling, death rather than these limbs of mine.

You will separate life from my spirit; and yet [keep] my bones from death.

16 I loathe it; I cannot live for ever: let me alone; for my days are but nought.

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

17 What is the mortal, that thou shouldst make him great? and that thou shouldst direct thy heart toward him?

For what is man, that you have magnified him? or that you give heed to him?

18 And that thou shouldst visit him every morning, probe him every moment?

Will you visit him till the morning, and judge him till [the time of] rest?

19 How long wilt thou not turn thy regard from me, nor let; me loose till I swallow down my spittle?

How long do you not let me alone, nor let me go, until I shall swallow down my spittle?

20 If I have sinned, what [injury] can I cause unto thee, O thou Guardian of men? why hast thou set me as an object for thee to strike at, so that I am become a burden to myself?

If I have sinned, what shall I be able to do, O you that understand the mind of men? why have you made me as your accuser, and [why] am I a burden to you?

21 And why wilt thou not forgive my transgression, and let my iniquity pass away? for soon must I lie down in the dust; and thou wilt seek for me, but I shall be no more.

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