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?
The life of man upon earth is a warfare, and his days are like the days of a hireling.
2 As a servant eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hired laborer hopeth for his reward:
As a servant longeth for the shade, as the hireling looketh for the end of his work;
3 So was I compelled to possess months of vanity, and nights of trouble were counted out unto me.
So I also have had empty months, and have numbered to myself wearisome nights.
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.
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 covered with worms and clods of dust: my skin is burst open, and become loathsome.
My flesh is clothed with rottenness and the filth of dust, my skin is withered and drawn together.
6 My days hasten away more swiftly than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end in the absence of hope.
My days have passed more swiftly than the web is cut by the weaver, and are consumed without any hope.
7 Oh remember that nothing but a breath is my life; that my eye will not again see happiness;
Remember that my life is but wind, and my eyes shall not return to see good things.
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.
Nor shall the sight of man behold me: thy eyes are upon me, and I shall be 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)
As a cloud is consumed, and passeth away: so he that shall go down to hell shall not come up. (Sheol h7585)
10 He will return no more to his house, and his place will not recognize him any more.
Nor shall he return my more into his 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.
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 monster, that thou settest a watch over me?
Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou hast enclosed me in a prison?
13 For should I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall help me bear my complaint:
If I say: My bed shall comfort me, and I shall be relieved speaking with myself on my couch:
14 Then wouldst thou frighten me with dreams, and with visions wouldst thou terrify me;
Thou wilt frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions.
15 So that my soul would choose strangling, death rather than these limbs of mine.
So that my soul rather chooseth hanging, and my bones death.
16 I loathe it; I cannot live for ever: let me alone; for my days are but nought.
I have done with hope, I shall now live no longer: spare me, for my days are nothing.
17 What is the mortal, that thou shouldst make him great? and that thou shouldst direct thy heart toward him?
What is a man that thou shouldst magnify him? or why dost thou set thy heart upon him?
18 And that thou shouldst visit him every morning, probe him every moment?
Thou visitest him early in the morning, and thou provest him suddenly.
19 How long wilt thou not turn thy regard from me, nor let; me loose till I swallow down my spittle?
How long wilt thou not spare me, nor suffer me to 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?
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 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 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.
