Job 7
1 Does not man have hard labor on earth? Are not his days like the days of a hired man?
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?
2 Like a slave earnestly desires the shadows of evening, like a hired man looks for his wages—
As a servant eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hired laborer hopeth for his reward:
3 so I have been made to endure months of misery; I have been given trouble-filled nights.
So was I compelled to possess months of vanity, and nights of trouble were counted out unto me.
4 When I lie down, I say to myself, 'When will I get up and when will the night be gone?' I am full of tossing to and fro until the day's dawning.
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.
5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; the sores in my skin harden up and then dissolve and run afresh.
My flesh is covered with worms and clods of dust: my skin is burst open, and become loathsome.
6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle; they pass without hope.
My days hasten away more swiftly than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end in the absence of hope.
7 God, call to mind that my life is only a breath; my eye will no more see good.
Oh remember that nothing but a breath is my life; that my eye will not again see happiness;
8 The eye of God, who sees me, will see me no more; God's eyes will be on me, but I will not exist.
The eye of him that seeth me now will not behold me again: [thou fixest] thy eyes upon me, and I am no more.
9 As a cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol will come up no more. (Sheol h7585)
As the cloud vanisheth and passeth away: so will he that goeth down to the nether world not come up again. (Sheol h7585)
10 He will return no more to his house; neither will his place know him again.
He will return no more to his house, and his place will not recognize him any more.
11 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.
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.
12 Am I the sea or a sea monster that you place a guard over me?
Am I a sea, or a monster, that thou settest a watch over me?
13 When I say, 'My bed will comfort me, and my couch will ease my complaint,'
For should I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall help me bear my complaint:
14 then you scare me with dreams and terrify me through visions,
Then wouldst thou frighten me with dreams, and with visions wouldst thou terrify me;
15 so that I would choose strangling and death rather than preserving these bones of mine.
So that my soul would choose strangling, death rather than these limbs of mine.
16 I loathe my life; I would not wish to always be alive; let me alone for my days are useless.
I loathe it; I cannot live for ever: let me alone; for my days are but nought.
17 What is man that you should pay attention to him, that you should set your mind on him,
What is the mortal, that thou shouldst make him great? and that thou shouldst direct thy heart toward him?
18 that you should observe him every morning and test him every moment?
And that thou shouldst visit him every morning, probe him every moment?
19 How long will it be before you look away from me, before you let me alone long enough for me to swallow down my own saliva?
How long wilt thou not turn thy regard from me, nor let; me loose till I swallow down my spittle?
20 Even if I have sinned, what would that do to you, you who watch men? Why have you made a target of me, so that I am a burden for you?
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?
21 Why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For now will I lie down in the dust; you will seek me carefully, but I will not exist.”
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.
