Job 7
1 Is there not a warfare to man on earth? And as the days of an hireling his days?
Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
2 As a servant desireth the shadow, And as a hireling expecteth his wage,
As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:
3 So I have been caused to inherit months of vanity, And nights of misery they numbered to me.
So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
4 If I lay down then I said, 'When do I rise!' And evening hath been measured, And I have been full of tossings till dawn.
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 Clothed hath been my flesh [with] worms, And a clod of dust, My skin hath been shrivelled and is loathsome,
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.
6 My days swifter than a weaving machine, And they are consumed without hope.
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7 Remember Thou that my life [is] a breath, Mine eye turneth not back to see good.
O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.
8 The eye of my beholder beholdeth me not. Thine eyes [are] upon me — and I am not.
The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.
9 Consumed hath been a cloud, and it goeth, So he who is going down to Sheol cometh not up. (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 He turneth not again to his house, Nor doth his place discern him again.
He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
11 Also I — I withhold not my mouth — I speak in the distress of my spirit, I talk 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 A sea -[monster] am I, or a dragon, That thou settest over me a guard?
Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?
13 When I said, 'My bed doth comfort me,' He taketh away in my talking my couch.
When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;
14 And thou hast affrighted me with dreams, And from visions thou terrifiest me,
Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:
15 And my soul chooseth strangling, Death rather than my bones.
So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.
16 I have wasted away — not to the age do I live. Cease from me, for my days [are] vanity.
I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
17 What [is] man that Thou dost magnify him? And that Thou settest unto him Thy heart?
What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
18 And inspectest him in the mornings, In the evenings dost try him?
And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
19 How long dost Thou not look from me? Thou dost not desist till I swallow my spittle.
How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
20 I have sinned, what do I to Thee, O watcher of man? Why hast Thou set me for a mark to Thee, And I am for a burden to myself — and what?
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 Thou dost not take away my transgression, And cause to pass away mine iniquity, Because now, for dust I lie down: And Thou hast sought me — and I am not!
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.
