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 warfare to man on earth? And as the days of an hireling his days?

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

As a servant desireth the shadow, And as a hireling expecteth 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 nights of misery they numbered 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 said, 'When do I rise!' And evening hath been measured, And I have been full of tossings till dawn.

5 My flesh is covered with worms and clods of dust: my skin is burst open, and become loathsome.

Clothed hath been my flesh [with] worms, And a clod of dust, My skin hath been shrivelled 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 weaving machine, 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 Thou that my life [is] a breath, Mine eye turneth not 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 beholdeth me not. Thine eyes [are] upon 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)

Consumed hath been a cloud, and it goeth, So he who is going down to Sheol cometh not up. (Sheol h7585)

10 He will return no more to his house, and his place will not recognize him any more.

He turneth not again to his house, Nor doth 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 — I withhold not 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?

A sea -[monster] am I, or a dragon, That thou settest over me a guard?

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

When I said, 'My bed doth comfort me,' He taketh away in my talking my couch.

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

And thou hast affrighted me with dreams, And from visions thou terrifiest me,

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

And my soul chooseth 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 — not to the age do I live. 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 Thou dost magnify him? And that Thou settest unto him Thy heart?

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

And inspectest him in the mornings, In the evenings dost 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 dost Thou not look from me? Thou dost not desist till 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 to Thee, O watcher of man? Why hast Thou set me for a mark to Thee, 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.

Thou dost not take away my transgression, And cause to pass away mine iniquity, Because now, for dust I lie down: And Thou hast sought me — and I am not!