Job 7

1 Is there not an appointed time to man vpon earth? and are not his dayes as the dayes of an hyreling?

“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 seruant longeth for the shadowe, and as an hyreling looketh for the ende of his worke,

Like some slave longing for a bit of shade, like a hired hand anxiously waiting for pay day,

3 So haue I had as an inheritance the moneths of vanitie, and painefull nights haue bene appointed vnto me.

I've been given months of emptiness and nights of misery.

4 If I layed me downe, I sayde, When shall I arise? and measuring the euening I am euen full with tossing to and from vnto 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 wormes and filthinesse of the dust: my skinne is rent, and become horrible.

My body is covered with maggots and caked in dirt; my skin is cracked, with oozing sores.

6 My dayes are swifter then a weauers shittle, and they are spent without hope.

My days pass quicker than a weaver's shuttle and they come to an end without hope.

7 Remember that my life is but a wind, and that mine eye shall not returne to see pleasure.

Remember that my life is just a breath; I will not see happiness again.

8 The eye that hath seene me, shall see me no more: thine eyes are vpon me, and I shall be no longer.

Those watching me won't see me anymore; your eyes will be looking for me, but I will be gone.

9 As the cloude vanisheth and goeth away, so he that goeth downe to the graue, shall come vp 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 returne no more to his house, neither shall his place knowe him any more.

They will never return home, and the people they knew will forget them.

11 Therefore I will not spare my mouth, but will speake in the trouble of my spirite, and muse in the bitternesse of my minde.

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 whalefish, that thou keepest me in warde?

Am I the sea or a sea monster that you have to guard me?

13 When I say, My couch shall relieue me, and my bed shall bring comfort in my meditation,

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 fearest thou me with dreames, and astonishest me with visions.

then you scare me so much with dreams and terrify me with visions

15 Therefore my soule chuseth rather to be strangled and to die, then to be in my bones.

that I would rather be strangled—I would rather die than become just a bag of bones.

16 I abhorre it, I shall not liue alway: spare me then, for my dayes are but vanitie.

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 thou doest magnifie him, and that thou settest thine heart vpon him?

Why are human beings so important to you; why are you so concerned about them

18 And doest visite him euery morning, and tryest him euery moment?

that you inspect them every morning and test them every moment? Won't you ever stop staring at me?

19 Howe long will it be yer thou depart from me? thou wilt not let me alone whiles I may swallowe my spettle.

Won't you ever leave me alone long enough to catch my breath?

20 I haue sinned, what shall I do vnto thee? O thou preseruer of me, why hast thou set me as a marke against thee, so that I am a burden vnto my selfe?

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 doest thou not pardon my trespasse? and take away mine iniquitie? for nowe shall I sleepe in the dust, and if thou seekest me in the morning, I shall not be found.

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.”