1Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?2As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work: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.5My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.6My days are swifter than a weaver' shuttle, and are spent without hope.7O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.8The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more : thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.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.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 7
English Standard Version
Job Continues: My Life Has No Hope
1“Has not man a hard service on earth, and are not his days like the days of a hired hand? (Job 14:5; Job 14:14; Ps 39:4; Isa 40:2)2Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like a hired hand who looks for his wages, (Le 19:13; Job 14:6; So 2:17; So 4:6; Jer 6:4)3so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me. (Job 7:16; Job 30:17)4When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I arise?’ But the night is long, and I am full of tossing till the dawn. (De 28:67)5My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt; my skin hardens, then breaks out afresh. (Job 2:7; Job 2:8; Isa 14:11)6My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle and come to their end without hope. (Job 9:25; Isa 38:12)7“Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good. (Job 6:26; Ps 78:39)8The eye of him who sees me will behold me no more; while your eyes are on me, I shall be gone. (Job 7:2; Job 8:18; Job 20:9; Ps 37:36)9As the cloud fades and vanishes, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come up; (Job 21:13; Job 30:15)10he returns no more to his house, nor does his place know him anymore. (2Sa 12:23; Job 8:18; Job 10:21; Job 20:9; Ps 103:16)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. (1Sa 1:10; Job 3:20; Job 10:1; Job 21:4; Job 21:25; Ps 40:9; Ps 77:3; Isa 38:15)12Am I the sea, or a sea monster, that you set a guard over me? (Ge 1:21)13When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me, my couch will ease my complaint,’ (Job 9:27)14then you scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions,15so that I would choose strangling and death rather than my bones. (Job 19:20; Job 30:17)16I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are a breath. (Ex 14:12; Job 7:3; Job 9:21; Job 10:1; Job 10:20; Job 14:6; Ps 39:13)17What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him, (Ps 8:4; Ps 144:3; Heb 2:6)18visit him every morning and test him every moment? (Ps 11:4; Ps 17:3)19How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone till I swallow my spit? (Job 14:6)20If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of mankind? Why have you made me your mark? Why have I become a burden to you? (Job 16:12; La 3:12)21Why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For now I shall lie in the earth; you will seek me, but I shall not be.” (Job 7:8; Job 8:5; Job 24:5; Pr 1:28; Da 12:2)