Job 7

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

“Isn’t a man forced to labour on earth? Aren’t his days like the days of a hired hand?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The eye of him who sees me will see me no more. Your eyes will be on me, but I will 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 is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol will come up no more. (Sheol h7585)

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

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

11 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.

“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, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

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

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

When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me. My couch will ease my complaint,’

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

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

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

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

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

I loathe my life. I don’t want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

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

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

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

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

19 How long wilt thou not look away from me, nor let me alone till 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 shall I do to thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

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

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