Job 7

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

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

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

4When 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.footnote c

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

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

7O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.footnote dfootnote e

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

9As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

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

11Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

12Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

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

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

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

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

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

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

19How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

20I 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?

21And 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.

Job Continues: Life Seems Futile

1“Is not man consigned to labor on earth?Are not his days like those of a hired hand? 2Like a slave he longs for shade;like a hireling he waits for his wages. 3So I am allotted months of futility,and nights of misery are appointed to me. 4When I lie down I think:‘When will I get up?’But the night drags on,and I toss and turn until dawn. 5My flesh is clothed with wormsand encrusted with dirt;my skin is cracked and festering. 6My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle;they come to an end without hope.

7Remember that my life is but a breath.My eyes will never again see happiness. 8The eye that beholds me will no longer see me.You will look for me, but I will be no more. 9As a cloud vanishes and is gone,so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up. 10He never returns to his house;his place remembers him no more.

11Therefore I will not restrain my mouth;I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. 12Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep,that You must keep me under guard? 13When I think my bed will comfort meand my couch will ease my complaint, 14then You frighten me with dreamsand terrify me with visions, 15so that I would prefer strangling and deathover my life in this body. 16I loathe my life! I would not live forever.Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

17What is man that You should exalt him,that You should set Your heart upon him, 18that You attend to him every morning,and test him every moment? 19Will You never look away from me,or leave me alone to swallow my spittle? 20If I have sinned, what have I done to You,O watcher of mankind?Why have You made me Your target,so that I am a burden to Youfootnote a? 21Why do You not pardon my transgressionand take away my iniquity?For soon I will lie down in the dust;You will seek me, but I will be no more.”