Job 7

Job’s Life Seems Futile

1 "*7:1 Lit Has not man compulsory laborIs a person not forced to labor on earth,

And are his days not like the days of a hired worker?

2 "As a slave pants for the shade,

And as a hired worker who eagerly waits for his wages,

3 So I am allotted worthless months,

And nights of trouble are apportioned to me.

4 "When I lie down, I say,

‘When shall I arise?’

But the night continues,

And I am continually tossing until dawn.

5 "My flesh is clothed with maggots and a crust of dirt,

My skin hardens and *7:5 Lit meltsoozes.

6 "My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,

And they come to an end without hope.

7 "Remember that my life is a mere breath;

My eye will not see goodness again.

8 "The eye of him who sees me will no longer look at me;

Your eyes will be on me, but I will not exist.

9 "When a cloud vanishes, it is gone;

In the same way one who goes down to *7:9 I.e., the netherworldSheol does not come up.

10 "He will not return to his house again,

Nor will his place know about him anymore.

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.

12 "Am I the sea, or the sea monster,

That You set a guard over me?

13 "If I say, ‘My couch will comfort me,

My bed will *7:13 Lit bearease my complaint,’

14 Then You frighten me with dreams,

And terrify me by visions,

15 So that my soul would choose suffocation,

Death rather than my *7:15 Lit bonespains.

16 "I *7:16 Or loathewaste away; I will not live forever.

Leave me alone, for my days are only a breath.

17 "What is man that You exalt him,

And that You *7:17 Lit set Your heart onare concerned about him,

18 That You examine him every morning

And put him to the test every moment?

19 "*7:19 Lit How long will You notWill You never turn Your gaze away from me,

Nor leave me alone until I swallow my spittle?

20 "Have I sinned? What have I done to You,

Watcher of mankind?

Why have You made me Your target,

So that I am a burden to myself?

21 "Why then do You not forgive my wrongdoing

And take away my *7:21 Or unjust deedguilt?

For now I will lie down in the dust;

And You will search for me, but I will no longer exist."