Job 7

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

Does not man have hard labor on earth? Are not his days like the days of a hired man?

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

Like a slave earnestly desires the shadows of evening, like a hired man looks for his wages—

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

so I have been made to endure months of misery; I have been given trouble-filled nights.

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 to myself, 'When will I get up and when will the night be gone?' I am full of tossing to and fro until the day's dawning.

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; the sores in my skin harden up and then dissolve and run 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; they pass without hope.

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

God, call to mind that my life is only a breath; my eye will 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 God, who sees me, will see me no more; God's eyes will be on me, but I will not exist.

9 As the cloude vanisheth and goeth away, so he that goeth downe to the graue, shall come vp no more. (Sheol h7585)

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

10 He shall returne no more to his house, neither shall his place knowe him any more.

He will return no more to his house; neither will his place know him again.

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 restrain 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 the sea or a sea monster that you place a guard 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 will comfort me, and my couch will ease my complaint,'

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

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

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

so that I would choose strangling and death rather than preserving these bones of mine.

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

I loathe my life; I would not wish to always be alive; let me alone for my days are useless.

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

What is man that you should pay attention to him, that you should set your mind on him,

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

that you should observe him every morning and test 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 will it be before you look away from me, before you let me alone long enough for me to swallow down my own saliva?

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?

Even if I have sinned, what would that do to you, you who watch men? Why have you made a target of me, so that I am a burden for you?

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.

Why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For now will I lie down in the dust; you will seek me carefully, but I will not exist.”