Job 7

1 “Is not a man forced to labor on earth? Are not his days like the days of a hired hand?

Is there not a warfare to man upon earth? And are not his days like the days of a hireling?

2 As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling who looks for his wages,

As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, and as a hireling who looks for his wages,

3 so I am made to possess months of misery, wearisome nights are appointed to me.

so I am made to possess months of misery, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

4 When I lie down, I say, ‘When will I arise, and the night be gone?’ I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.

When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? And I am full of tossing to and fro to the dawning of the day.

5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.

6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

7 Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye will no more see good.

O remember that my life is a breath. My eye shall no more see good.

8 The eye of him who sees me will see me no more. Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.

The eye of him who sees me shall behold me no more. Thine eyes shall be upon me, but I shall not be.

9 As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol (Sheol h7585) will come up no more.

As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol shall come up no more. (Sheol h7585)

10 He will return no more to his house, neither will his place know him any more.

He shall return no more to his house, nor shall his place know him any more.

11 “Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in 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 sea monster, that you put a guard over me?

Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, that thou set a watch over me?

13 When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me. My couch will ease my complaint,’

When I say, My bed shall comfort me. My couch shall ease my complaint.

14 then you scare me with dreams and terrify me through visions,

Then thou scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions,

15 so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than my bones.

so that my soul chooses strangling and death rather than these my bones.

16 I loathe my life. I do not want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

I loathe my life. I would not live always. Let me alone, for my days are vanity.

17 What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,

What is man, that thou should magnify him, and that thou should set thy mind upon him,

18 that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?

and that thou should visit him every morning, and try him every moment?

19 How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?

How long will thou not look away from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

20 If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself?

If I have sinned, what do I do to thee, O thou watcher of men? Why have thou set me as a mark for thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

21 Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now will I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I will not be.”

And why do thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? For now I shall lie down in the dust, and thou will seek me diligently, but I shall not be.