Job 7

1 Hath not man a life of labour upon earth? and are not his days like the days of a hireling?

"Isn't a man forced to labor on earth? Aren't his days like the days of a hired hand?

2 As a bondman earnestly desireth the shadow, and a hireling expecteth his wages,

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

3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

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

4 If I lie down, I say, When shall I rise up, and the darkness be gone? and I am full of tossings until the dawn.

When I lie down, I say, 'When shall I arise, and the night be gone?' I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.

5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and suppurates.

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 Remember thou that my life is wind; mine eye shall no more see good.

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

8 The eye of him that hath seen me shall behold me no [more]: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.

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

9 The cloud consumeth and vanisheth away; so he that goeth down to Sheol shall not come up. (Sheol h7585)

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

10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him again.

He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know 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 I will not keep silent. 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 thou settest a watch over me?

Am I a sea, or a sea monster, that you put a guard over me?

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

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

14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions;

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

15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, death, rather than my bones.

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

16 I loathe it; I shall not live always: let me alone, for my days are a breath.

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

17 What is man, that thou makest much of him? and that thou settest thy heart upon him?

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

18 And that thou visitest him every morning, triest him every moment?

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

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

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

20 Have I sinned, what do I unto thee, thou Observer of men? Why hast thou set me as an object of assault for thee, so that I am become a burden to myself?

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?

21 And why dost not thou forgive my transgression and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I lie down in the dust, and thou shalt seek me early, and I shall not be.

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