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 there not warfare to man on earth? And his days as the days of a hired worker?
2 As a servant eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hired laborer hopeth for his reward:
As a servant desires the shadow, And as a hired worker expects his wage,
3 So was I compelled to possess months of vanity, and nights of trouble were counted out unto me.
So I have been caused to inherit months of vanity, And they numbered nights of misery to 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.
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 covered with worms and clods of dust: my skin is burst open, 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 hasten away more swiftly than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end in the absence of hope.
My days swifter than a loom, And they are consumed without 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] a breath, My eye does not turn back to 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 my beholder does not behold me. Your eyes [are] on me—and I am not.
9 As the cloud vanisheth and passeth away: so will he that goeth down to the nether world not come up again. (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 will return no more to his house, and his place will not recognize him any more.
He does not turn to his house again, Nor does his place discern him again.
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.
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 monster, that thou settest a watch over me?
Am I a sea [monster], or a dragon, That You set a watch over me?
13 For should I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall help me bear my complaint:
When I said, My bed comforts me, In my talking He takes away my couch.
14 Then wouldst thou frighten me with dreams, and with visions wouldst thou terrify me;
And You have frightened me with dreams, And You terrify me from visions,
15 So that my soul would choose strangling, death rather than these limbs of mine.
And my soul chooses strangling, Death rather than my bones.
16 I loathe it; I cannot live for ever: let me alone; for my days are but nought.
I have wasted away—I do not live for all time. Cease from me, for my days [are] vanity.
17 What is the mortal, that thou shouldst make him great? and that thou shouldst direct thy heart toward him?
What [is] man that You magnify him? And that You set Your heart to him?
18 And that thou shouldst visit him every morning, probe him every moment?
And inspect him in the mornings, [And] in the evenings try him?
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 look from me? You do not desist until I swallow 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 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 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.
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!”
