Job 7

1 “Is there not warfare to man on earth? And his days as the days of a hired worker?

"Isn't a man forced to labor on earth? Aren't his days like the days of a hired hand?

2 As a servant desires the shadow, And as a hired worker expects his wage,

As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling who looks for his wages,

3 So I have been caused to inherit months of vanity, And they numbered nights of misery to me.

so am I made to possess months of misery, wearisome nights are appointed to me.

4 If I lay down, then I have said, When do I rise, And evening has been measured? And I have been full of tossings until dawn.

When I lie down, I say, 'When shall I arise, and the night be gone?' I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.

5 My flesh has been clothed [with] worms, And a clod of dust, My skin has been shriveled and is loathsome,

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.

6 My days swifter than a loom, And they are consumed without hope.

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

7 Remember that my life [is] a breath, My eye does not turn back to see good.

Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye shall no more see good.

8 The eye of my beholder does not behold me. Your eyes [are] on me—and I am not.

The eye of him who sees me shall see me no more. Your eyes shall be on me, but I shall not be.

9 A cloud has been consumed, and it goes, So he who is going down to Sheol does not come up. (Sheol h7585)

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

10 He does not turn to his house again, Nor does his place discern him again.

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

11 Also I do not withhold my mouth—I speak in the distress of my spirit, I talk in the bitterness of my soul.

"Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

12 Am I a sea [monster], or a dragon, That You set a watch over me?

Am I a sea, or a sea monster, that you put a guard over me?

13 When I said, My bed comforts me, In my talking He takes away my couch.

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

14 And You have frightened me with dreams, And You terrify me from visions,

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

15 And my soul chooses strangling, Death rather than my bones.

so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than my bones.

16 I have wasted away—I do not live for all time. Cease from me, for my days [are] vanity.

I loathe my life. I do not want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

17 What [is] man that You magnify him? And that You set Your heart to him?

What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,

18 And inspect him in the mornings, [And] in the evenings try him?

that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?

19 How long do You not look from me? You do not desist until I swallow my spittle.

How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?

20 I have sinned, what do I do to You, O watcher of man? Why have You set me for a mark to You, And I am for a burden to myself—and what?

If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself?

21 You do not take away my transgression, And [do not] cause my iniquity to pass away, Because now, I lie down in dust, And You have sought me—and I am not!”

Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I shall not be."