Job 7

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

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

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

As a servant earnestly desires the shadow, and as a worker looks for the reward of his work:

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

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

4 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.

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

5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks 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, and are spent without hope.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11 “Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in 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 sea monster, that you put a guard over me?

Am I a sea, or a whale, that you set a watch over me?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is man, that you should magnify him? and that you should set your heart upon him?

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

And that you should visit him every morning, and try him every moment?

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

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

20 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?

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

21 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.”

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