Job 7
1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of a worker?
“Isn't life for human beings like serving a sentence of hard labor? Don't their days pass like those of a hired laborer?
2 As a servant earnestly desires the shadow, and as a worker looks for the reward of his work:
Like some slave longing for a bit of shade, like a hired hand anxiously waiting for pay day,
3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
I've been given months of emptiness and nights of misery.
4 When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings back and forth unto the dawning of the day.
When I go to bed I ask, ‘When shall I get up?’ But the night goes on and on, and I toss and turn until dawn.
5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.
My body is covered with maggots and caked in dirt; my skin is cracked, with oozing sores.
6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.
My days pass quicker than a weaver's shuttle and they come to an end without hope.
7 O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.
Remember that my life is just a breath; I will not see happiness again.
8 The eye of him that has seen me shall see me no more: your eyes are upon me, and I am not.
Those watching me won't see me anymore; your eyes will be looking for me, but I will be gone.
9 As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away: so he that goes down to the grave shall come up no more. (Sheol h7585)
When a cloud disappears, it's gone, just as anyone who goes down to Sheol does not come back up. (Sheol h7585)
10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
They will never return home, and the people they knew will forget them.
11 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.
So, no, I won't hold my tongue—I will speak in the agony of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that you set a watch over me?
Am I the sea or a sea monster that you have to guard me?
13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaints;
If I tell myself, ‘I'll feel better if I lie down in my bed,’ or ‘it will help me to lie down on my couch,’
14 Then you scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions:
then you scare me so much with dreams and terrify me with visions
15 So that my soul chooses strangling, and death rather than my life.
that I would rather be strangled—I would rather die than become just a bag of bones.
16 I loathe it; I would not live always: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
I hate my life! I know I won't live long. Leave me alone because my life is just a breath.
17 What is man, that you should magnify him? and that you should set your heart upon him?
Why are human beings so important to you; why are you so concerned about them
18 And that you should visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
that you inspect them every morning and test them every moment? Won't you ever stop staring at me?
19 How long will you not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
Won't you ever leave me alone long enough to catch my breath?
20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto you, O you preserver of men? why have you set me as a mark against you, so that I am a burden to myself?
What have I done wrong? What have I done to you, Watcher of Humanity? Why have you made me your target, so that I'm a burden even to myself?
21 And why do you not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and you shall seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.
If so why don't you pardon my sins, and take away my guilt? Right now I'm going to lie down in the dust, and though you will look for me, I will be gone.”
