Job 7

1 Is there not a warfare to man on earth? And as the days of an hireling his days?

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

2 As a servant desireth the shadow, And as a hireling expecteth his wage,

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

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

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

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.

5 Clothed hath been my flesh [with] worms, And a clod of dust, My skin hath been shrivelled and is loathsome,

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

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

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

7 Remember Thou that my life [is] a breath, Mine eye turneth not back to see good.

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

8 The eye of my beholder beholdeth me not. Thine eyes [are] upon me — and I am not.

The eye of my beholder does not behold me. Your eyes [are] on 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)

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

10 He turneth not again to his house, Nor doth his place discern him again.

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

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

Also I do not withhold my mouth—I speak in the distress of my spirit, I talk 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 [monster], or a dragon, That You set a watch over me?

13 When I said, 'My bed doth comfort me,' He taketh away in my talking my couch.

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

14 And thou hast affrighted me with dreams, And from visions thou terrifiest me,

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

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

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

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

I have wasted away—I do not live for all time. Cease from me, 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 You magnify him? And that You set Your heart to him?

18 And inspectest him in the mornings, In the evenings dost try him?

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

19 How long dost Thou not look from me? Thou dost not desist till I swallow my spittle.

How long do You not look from me? You do not desist until I swallow 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 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?

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!

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!”