Job 7

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

Is there not a war-service for man on the earth? Are not his days as the days of a hireling?

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

As a servant panteth for the shade, And as a hireling looketh 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 affliction, And wearisome nights are appointed for me.

4 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.

If I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? And I am full of restlessness until the dawning of the day.

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

My flesh is clothed with worms, and clods of dust; My skin is broken and become loathsome.

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

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle; They pass away without hope.

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

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

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

The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more; Thine eyes shall look for me, but I shall not be.

9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. (Sheol h7585)

As the cloud dissolveth and wasteth away, So he that goeth down to the grave shall arise no more; (Sheol h7585)

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

No more shall he return to his house, And his dwelling-place shall know him no more.

11 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.

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

Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, That thou settest a watch over me?

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

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

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

Then thou scarest me with dreams, And terrifiest me with visions;

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

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

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

I am wasting away; I shall not live alway: Let me alone, for my days are a vapor!

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

What is man, that thou shouldst make great account him, And fix thy mind upon him?—

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

That thou shouldst visit him every morning, And prove 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 ere thou wilt look away from me, And let me alone, till I have time to breathe?

20 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?

If I have sinned, what have I done to thee, O thou watcher of men! Why hast thou set me up as thy mark, So that I have become a burden to myself?

21 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.

And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, And take away mine iniquity? For soon shall I sleep in the dust; And, though thou seek me diligently, I shall not be.