Job 7
1 Is not the life of man upon earth a state of trial? and his existence as that of a hireling by the day?
Is there not a time of service to man upon earth? And are not his days like the days of a hireling?
2 Or as a servant that fears his master, and one who has grasped a shadow? or as a hireling waiting for his pay?
As a servant that eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hireling that looketh for his wages;
3 So have I also endured months of vanity, and nights of pain have been appointed me.
So am I made to possess — months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
4 Whenever I lie down, I say, When [will it be] day? and whenever I rise up, again [I say] when [will it be] evening? and I am full of pains from evening to morning.
When I lie down, I say: 'When shall I arise?' But the night is long, and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
5 And my body is covered with loathsome worms; and I waste away, scraping off clods of dust from my eruption.
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin closeth up and breaketh out afresh.
6 And my life is lighter than a word, and has perished in vain hope.
My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7 Remember then that my life is breath, and mine eye shalt not yet again see good.
O remember that my life is a breath; mine eye shall no more see good.
8 The eye of him that sees me shall not see me [again]: thine eyes are upon me, and I am no more.
The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; while Thine eyes are upon me, I am gone.
9 [I am] as a cloud that is cleared away from the sky: for if a man go down to the grave, he shall not come up again: (Sheol h7585)
As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. (Sheol h7585)
10 and he shall surely not return to his own house, neither shall his place know him any more.
He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
11 Then neither will I refrain my mouth: I will speak being in distress; being in anguish I will disclose the bitterness of my soul.
Therefore I will not refrain 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 serpent, that thou hast set a watch over me?
Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, that Thou settest a watch over me?
13 I said that my bed should comfort me, and I would privately counsel with myself on my couch.
When I say: 'My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint';
14 Thou scarest me with dreams, and dost terrify me with visions.
Then Thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions;
15 Thou wilt separate life from my spirit; and yet [keep] my bones from death.
So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than these my bones.
16 For I shall not live for ever, that I should patiently endure: depart from me, for my life [is] vain.
I loathe it; I shall not live alway; let me alone; for my days are vanity.
17 For what is man, that thou hast magnified him? or that thou givest heed to him?
What is man, that Thou shouldest magnify him, and that Thou shouldest set Thy heart upon him,
18 Wilt thou visit him till the morning, and judge him till [the time of] rest?
And that Thou shouldest remember him every morning, and try him every moment?
19 How long dost thou not let me alone, nor let me go, until I shall swallow down my spittle?
How long wilt Thou not look away from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
20 If I have sinned, what shall I be able to do, O thou that understandest the mind of men? why hast thou made me as thine accuser, and [why] am I a burden to thee?
If I have sinned, what do I unto Thee, O Thou watcher of men? Why hast Thou set me as a mark for Thee, so that I am a burden to myself?
21 Why hast thou not forgotten my iniquity, and purged my sin? but now I shall depart to the earth; and in the morning I am no more.
And why dost Thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust; and Thou wilt seek me, but I shall not be.
