Job 7
1 Is there not a warfare to man on earth? And as the days of an hireling his days?
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 desireth the shadow, And as a hireling expecteth his wage,
As a servant panteth for the shade, And as a hireling looketh for his wages,
3 So I have been caused to inherit months of vanity, And nights of misery they numbered to me.
So am I made to possess months of affliction, And wearisome nights are appointed for me.
4 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.
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 Clothed hath been my flesh [with] worms, And a clod of dust, My skin hath been shrivelled and is loathsome,
My flesh is clothed with worms, and clods of dust; My skin is broken and become loathsome.
6 My days swifter than a weaving machine, And they are consumed without hope.
My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle; They pass away without hope.
7 Remember Thou that my life [is] a breath, Mine eye turneth not back to see good.
O remember that my life is a breath; That mine eye shall no more see good!
8 The eye of my beholder beholdeth me not. Thine eyes [are] upon me — and I am not.
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 Consumed hath been a cloud, and it goeth, So he who is going down to Sheol cometh not up. (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 turneth not again to his house, Nor doth his place discern him again.
No more shall he return to his house, And his dwelling-place shall know him no more.
11 Also I — I withhold not my mouth — I speak in the distress of my spirit, I talk 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 A sea -[monster] am I, or a dragon, That thou settest over me a guard?
Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, That thou settest a watch over me?
13 When I said, 'My bed doth comfort me,' He taketh away in my talking my couch.
When I say, My bed shall relieve me, My couch shall ease my complaint,
14 And thou hast affrighted me with dreams, And from visions thou terrifiest me,
Then thou scarest me with dreams, And terrifiest me with visions;
15 And my soul chooseth strangling, Death rather than my bones.
So that my soul chooseth strangling, Yea, death, rather than these my bones.
16 I have wasted away — not to the age do I live. Cease from me, for my days [are] vanity.
I am wasting away; I shall not live alway: Let me alone, for my days are a vapor!
17 What [is] man that Thou dost magnify him? And that Thou settest unto him Thy heart?
What is man, that thou shouldst make great account him, And fix thy mind upon him?—
18 And inspectest him in the mornings, In the evenings dost try him?
That thou shouldst visit him every morning, And prove him every moment?
19 How long dost Thou not look from me? Thou dost not desist till I swallow my spittle.
How long ere thou wilt look away from me, And let me alone, till I have time to breathe?
20 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?
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 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!
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.
