Job 7
Job Speaks About the Futility of Human Existence
1 “Isn’t a mortal’s stay on earth difficultlike a hired hand’s daily work?2 Like a slave, he longs for shade.Like a hired hand, he eagerly looks for his pay.3 Likewise, I have been given months that are of no use,and I have inherited nights filled with misery.4 When I lie down, I ask,‘When will I get up?’But the evening is long,and I’m exhausted from tossing about until dawn.5 My body is covered with maggots and scabs.My skin is crusted over with sores; then they ooze.6 My days go swifter than a weaver’s shuttle.They are spent without hope.7 Remember, my life is only a breath,and never again will my eyes see anything good.8 The eye that watches over me will no longer see me.Your eye will look for me, but I’ll be gone.9 As a cloud fades away and disappears,so a person goes into the grave and doesn’t come back again.10 He doesn’t come back home again,and his household doesn’t recognize him anymore.11 So I won’t keep my mouth shut,but I will speak from the distress that is in my spiritand complain about the bitterness in my soul.”
Job Says to God: Leave Me Alone
12 “Am I the sea or a sea monsterthat you have set a guard over me?13 When I say,‘My couch may give me comfort.My bed may help me bear my pain,’14 then you frighten me with dreamsand terrify me with visions.15 My throat would rather be choked.My bodyt would prefer death to these dreams.16 I hate my life; I do not want to live forever.Leave me alone because my days are so brief.17 “What is a mortal that you should make so much of him,that you should be concerned about him?18 What is he that you should inspect him every morningand examine him every moment?19 Why don’t you stop looking at melong enough to let me swallow my spit?t20 If I sin, what can I possibly do to yousince you insist on spying on people?Why do you make me your target?I’ve become a burden even to myself.21 Why don’t you forgive my disobedienceand take away my sin?Soon I’ll lie down in the dust.Then you will search for me, but I’ll be gone!”
Job 7
1 Is there not a warfare to man upon earth? And are not his days like the days of a hireling?
2 As a servant that earnestly desireth the shadow, And as a hireling that looketh for his wages:
3 So am I made to possess months of misery, And wearisome nights are appointed to me.
4 When 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.
5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; My skin closeth up, and breaketh out afresh.
6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And are spent without hope.
7 Oh remember that my life is a breath: Mine eye shall no more see good.
8 The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; Thine eyes shall be upon me, but I shall not be.
9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, So he that goeth down to Sheol shall come up no more.
10 He shall return no more to his house, Neither shall his place know him any more.
11 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, That thou settest a watch over me?
13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, My couch shall ease my complaint;
14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, And terrifiest me through visions:
15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, And death rather than these my bones.
16 I loathe my life; I would not live alway: Let me alone; for my days are vanity.
17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him, And that thou shouldest set thy mind upon him,
18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, And try him every moment?
19 How long wilt thou not look away from me, Nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
20 If I have sinned, what do I unto thee, O thou watcher of men? Why hast thou set me as a mark for thee, So that I am a burden to myself?
21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust; And thou wilt seek me diligently, but I shall not be.