1‘Do not mortals have hard service on earth? Are not their days like those of hired labourers?2Like a slave longing for the evening shadows, or a hired labourer waiting to be paid,3so I have been allotted months of futility, and nights of misery have been assigned to me.4When I lie down I think, “How long before I get up?” The night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.5My body is clothed with worms and scabs, my skin is broken and festering.6‘My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and they come to an end without hope.7Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again.8The eye that now sees me will see me no longer; you will look for me, but I will be no more.9As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so one who goes down to the grave does not return.10He will never come to his house again; his place will know him no more.11‘Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out 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 put me under guard?13When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,14even then you frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions,15so that I prefer strangling and death, rather than this body of mine.16I despise my life; I would not live for ever. Let me alone; my days have no meaning.17‘What is mankind that you make so much of them, that you give them so much attention,18that you examine them every morning and test them every moment?19Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant?20If I have sinned, what have I done to you, you who see everything we do? Why have you made me your target? Have I become a burden to you?[1]21Why do you not pardon my offences and forgive my sins? For I shall soon lie down in the dust; you will search for me, but I shall be no more.’
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)