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?
“People need to work hard on this earth, like soldiers do; all during the time that we are alive, we work hard [RHQ], like laborers/servants do.
2 As a servant eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hired laborer hopeth for his reward:
We are like [SIM] slaves who keep wanting to be in the cool shade, and we are like [SIM] workers who are waiting to be paid.
3 So was I compelled to possess months of vanity, and nights of trouble were counted out unto me.
God has given me many months [in which I think that it is] useless [to remain alive]; he has allotted/given to me many nights during which I feel miserable.
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.
When I lie down [at night] I say, ‘How long will it be until morning?’ But nights are long, and I (toss/turn over and over) [on my bed] until dawn.
5 My flesh is covered with worms and clods of dust: my skin is burst open, and become loathsome.
My body is covered with maggots and scabs; pus oozes out of my open sores.
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 pass as quickly as a weaver’s (shuttle/stick that takes the thread back and forth), and they end without my confidently expecting [that things will be better the next day].
7 Oh remember that nothing but a breath is my life; that my eye will not again see happiness;
God, do not forget that my life is [as short as] a breath [MET]; I [think that] I [SYN] will never again be happy.
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.
God, you [SYN] see me now, but [some day] you will not see me any more. You will search for me, but I will be gone [because I will be dead].
9 As the cloud vanisheth and passeth away: so will he that goeth down to the nether world not come up again. (Sheol h7585)
Like [SIM] clouds (disperse/break up) and then disappear, people [die and] descend to the place where dead people are, and they do not return; (Sheol h7585)
10 He will return no more to his house, and his place will not recognize him any more.
they never return to their houses, and people among whom they lived do not remember them 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.
So, I will not be silent; while I am suffering I will speak; I will complain [to God about what has happened to me] because I [SYN] am very angry.
12 Am I a sea, or a monster, that thou settest a watch over me?
[God, ] why do you watch closely what I am doing? [Do you think that] I am a [dangerous] sea monster?
13 For should I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall help me bear my complaint:
When [I lie down at night, ] I think, ‘I will be comforted here on my bed; my pain will be less while I am sleeping.’
14 Then wouldst thou frighten me with dreams, and with visions wouldst thou terrify me;
But then you give me dreams that cause me to be afraid; you give me visions that terrify me,
15 So that my soul would choose strangling, death rather than these limbs of mine.
with the result that I would prefer to be strangled to death than to continue to [be alive] being only a bunch of bones.
16 I loathe it; I cannot live for ever: let me alone; for my days are but nought.
I detest continuing to be alive; I do not want to live for many years [HYP]. Allow me to be alone, [because I will be alive] for only a very short remaining time [HYP].
17 What is the mortal, that thou shouldst make him great? and that thou shouldst direct thy heart toward him?
“We human beings are not [very important]; so, why do you pay a lot of attention to us [DOU]?
18 And that thou shouldst visit him every morning, probe him every moment?
You look at us every morning [to see what we are doing], and examine us every moment [to see if we are doing what is right].
19 How long wilt thou not turn thy regard from me, nor let; me loose till I swallow down my spittle?
(When will you stop looking at me and leave me alone [for a little time], long enough to swallow my spit?/Please stop looking at me and leave me alone [for a little time], long enough to swallow my spit.) [RHQ]
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?
[Why do] you watch me constantly? If I sin, that certainly does not harm you! Why have you set me up like a target to shoot at? Do you consider me to be a heavy load that you are forced to carry?
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.
[If I have sinned, ] are you not able to forgive me for my sins— the things that I have done that are wrong? Soon I will lie in my grave; you will search for me, but [you will not find me because] I will be [dead and] gone.”
