Job 7

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

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

2 As a seruant longeth for the shadowe, and as an hyreling looketh for the ende of his worke,

As a servant that eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hireling that looketh for his wages;

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

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

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 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 My flesh is clothed with wormes and filthinesse of the dust: my skinne is rent, and become horrible.

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin closeth up and breaketh out afresh.

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

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

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

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

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

The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; while Thine eyes are upon me, I am gone.

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

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

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.

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 whalefish, that thou keepest me in warde?

Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, that Thou settest a watch over me?

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

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

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

Then Thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions;

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

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

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

I loathe it; I shall not live alway; let me alone; for my days are vanity.

17 What is man, that thou doest magnifie him, and that thou settest thine heart vpon him?

What is man, that Thou shouldest magnify him, and that Thou shouldest set Thy heart upon him,

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

And that Thou shouldest remember him every morning, and try him every moment?

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

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

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?

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 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.

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.