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 a war-service for man on the earth? Are not his days as 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 panteth for the shade, And as a hireling looketh for his wages,
3 So was I compelled to possess months of vanity, and nights of trouble were counted out unto me.
So am I made to possess months of affliction, And wearisome nights are appointed for 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 lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? And I am full of restlessness until the dawning of the day.
5 My flesh is covered with worms and clods of dust: my skin is burst open, and become loathsome.
My flesh is clothed with worms, and clods of dust; My skin is broken and become 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 are swifter than a weaver's shuttle; They pass away without hope.
7 Oh remember that nothing but a breath is my life; that my eye will not again see happiness;
O remember that my life is a breath; That mine eye shall no more 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 hath seen me shall see me no more; Thine eyes shall look for me, but I shall not be.
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 the cloud dissolveth and wasteth away, So he that goeth down to the grave shall arise no more; (Sheol h7585)
10 He will return no more to his house, and his place will not recognize him any more.
No more shall he return to his house, And his dwelling-place shall know him no 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.
Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain 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, or a sea-monster, That thou settest a watch over me?
13 For should I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall help me bear my complaint:
When I say, My bed shall relieve me, My couch shall ease my complaint,
14 Then wouldst thou frighten me with dreams, and with visions wouldst thou terrify me;
Then thou scarest me with dreams, And terrifiest me with visions;
15 So that my soul would choose strangling, death rather than these limbs of mine.
So that my soul chooseth strangling, Yea, death, rather than these my bones.
16 I loathe it; I cannot live for ever: let me alone; for my days are but nought.
I am wasting away; I shall not live alway: Let me alone, for my days are a vapor!
17 What is the mortal, that thou shouldst make him great? and that thou shouldst direct thy heart toward him?
What is man, that thou shouldst make great account him, And fix thy mind upon him?—
18 And that thou shouldst visit him every morning, probe him every moment?
That thou shouldst visit him every morning, And prove him every moment?
19 How long wilt thou not turn thy regard from me, nor let; me loose till I swallow down my spittle?
How long ere thou wilt look away from me, And let me alone, till I have time to breathe?
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 have I done to thee, O thou watcher of men! Why hast thou set me up as thy mark, So that I have become a burden 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.
And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, And take away mine iniquity? For soon shall I sleep in the dust; And, though thou seek me diligently, I shall not be.
