Job 7

¹ Is not the life of man upon earth a state of trial ? and his existence as that of a hireling by the day ?

² Or as a servant that fears his master, and one who has grasped a shadow ? or as a hireling waiting for his pay ?

³ So have I also endured months of vanity, and nights of pain have been appointed me.

⁴ Whenever I lie down, I say, When will it be day ? and whenever I rise up, again I say when will it be evening ? and I am full of pains from evening to morning.

⁵ And my body is covered with loathsome worms ; and I waste away, scraping off clods of dust from my eruption.

⁶ And my life is lighter than a word, and has perished in vain hope.

⁷ Remember then that my life is breath, and mine eye shall not yet again see good.

⁸ The eye of him that sees me shall not see me again : thine eyes are upon me, and I am no more.

⁹ I am as a cloud that is cleared away from the sky : for if a man go down to the grave, he shall not come up again :

¹⁰ and he shall surely not return to his own house, neither shall his place know him any more.

¹¹ Then neither will I refrain my mouth : I will speak being in distress ; being in anguish I will disclose the bitterness of my soul.

¹² Am I a sea, or a serpent, that thou hast set a watch over me ?

¹³ I said that my bed should comfort me, and I would privately counsel with myself on my couch.

¹⁴ Thou scarest me with dreams, and dost terrify me with visions.

¹⁵ Thou wilt separate life from my spirit ; and yet keep my bones from death.

¹⁶ For I shall not live for ever, that I should patiently endure : depart from me, for my life is vain.

¹⁷ For what is man, that thou hast magnified him ? or that thou givest heed to him ?

¹⁸ Wilt thou visit him till the morning, and judge him till the time of rest ?

¹⁹ How long dost thou not let me alone, nor let me go, until I shall swallow down my spittle ?

²⁰ If I have sinned, what shall I be able to do, O thou that understandest the mind of men ? why hast thou made me as thine accuser, and why am I a burden to thee ?

²¹ Why hast thou not forgotten my iniquity, and purged my sin ? but now I shall depart to the earth ; and in the morning, I am no more.