Job 7

1 Is not the life of man upon earth a state of trial? and his existence as that of a hireling by the day?

Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?

2 Or as a servant that fears his master, and one who has grasped a shadow? or as a hireling waiting for his pay?

As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:

3 So have I also endured months of vanity, and nights of pain have been appointed me.

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

4 Whenever I lie down, I say, When [will it be] day? and whenever I rise up, again [I say] when [will it be] evening? and I am full of pains from evening to morning.

When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

5 And my body is covered with loathsome worms; and I waste away, scraping off clods of dust from my eruption.

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

6 And my life is lighter than a word, and has perished in vain hope.

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

7 Remember then that my life is breath, and mine eye shall not yet again see good.

O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

8 The eye of him that sees me shall not see me [again]: your eyes are upon me, and I am no more.

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

9 [I am] as a cloud that is cleared away from the sky: for if a man go down to the grave, he shall not come up again: (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 and he shall surely not return to his own house, neither shall his place know him any more.

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

11 Then neither will I refrain my mouth: I will speak being in distress; being in anguish I will disclose the bitterness of my soul.

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 serpent, that you have set a watch over me?

Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

13 I said that my bed should comfort me, and I would privately counsel with myself on my couch.

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

14 You scare me with dreams, and do terrify me with visions.

Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:

15 You will separate life from my spirit; and yet [keep] my bones from death.

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

16 For I shall not live for ever, that I should patiently endure: depart from me, for my life [is] vain.

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

17 For what is man, that you have magnified him? or that you give heed to him?

What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?

18 Will you visit him till the morning, and judge him till [the time of] rest?

And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?

19 How long do you not let me alone, nor let me go, until I shall swallow down my spittle?

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

20 If I have sinned, what shall I be able to do, O you that understand the mind of men? why have you made me as your accuser, and [why] am I a burden to you?

I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

21 Why have you not forgotten my iniquity, and purged my sin? but now I shall depart to the earth; and in the morning I am no more.

And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.