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Isn’t each person consigned to forced labour(A) on earth?
Are not his days like those of a hired worker?
Like a slave he longs for shade;
like a hired worker he waits for his pay.
So I have been made to inherit months of futility,
and troubled nights have been assigned to me.(B)
When I lie down I think,
‘When will I get up? ’
But the evening drags on endlessly,
and I toss and turn until dawn.
My flesh is clothed with maggots and encrusted with dirt.[a]
My skin forms scabs[b] and then oozes.(C)

My days pass more swiftly than a weaver’s shuttle;
they come to an end without hope.(D)
Remember that my life is but a breath.
My eye will never again see anything good.(E)
The eye of anyone who looks on me
will no longer see me.
Your eyes will look for me, but I will be gone.(F)
As a cloud fades away and vanishes,
so the one who goes down to Sheol(G) will never rise again.
10 He will never return to his house;
his home town will no longer remember[c] him.(H)

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[d](I) or a sea monster,(J)
that you keep me under guard?
13 When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me,
and my couch will ease my complaint,’
14 then you frighten me with dreams,
and terrify me with visions,(K)
15 so that I prefer strangling[e]
death rather than life in this body.[f](L)
16 I give up! I will not live for ever.
Leave me alone,(M) for my days are a breath.[g]

17 What is a mere human, that you think so highly of him
and pay so much attention to him?(N)
18 You inspect him every morning,
and put him to the test every moment.(O)
19 Will you ever look away from me,
or leave me alone long enough to swallow?[h]
20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you,
Watcher of humanity?
Why have you made me your target,(P)
so that I have become a burden to you?[i]
21 Why not forgive my sin
and pardon my iniquity?(Q)
For soon I will lie down in the grave.(R)
You will eagerly seek me, but I will be gone.(S)

Footnotes

  1. 7:5 Or and dirty scabs
  2. 7:5 Lit skin hardens
  3. 7:10 Lit know
  4. 7:12 Or the sea god
  5. 7:15 Or suffocation
  6. 7:15 Lit than my bones
  7. 7:16 Or are futile
  8. 7:19 Lit swallow my saliva?
  9. 7:20 Alt Hb tradition, LXX; MT, Vg read myself

Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?

As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:

So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

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.

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

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

As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave 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 whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaints;

14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:

15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.

16 I loathe it; 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 thine heart upon him?

18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?

19 How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

20 I 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?

21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

Job: My Suffering Is Endless

“Is there not a time of hard service for a man upon earth?
    Are not his days also like the days of a hired worker?
Like a servant, he longs for the shade,
    and like a hired worker, he looks for his wages,
so I have been assigned months of futility,
    and nights of trouble have been appointed to me.
When I lie down, I say,
    ‘When will I arise and the night be ended?’
    And I am full of restlessness until the dawn.
My flesh is covered with worms and caked with dirt;
    my skin is broken, and has become loathsome.

“My days fly more swiftly than a weaver’s shuttle,
    and are spent without hope.
Oh, remember that my life is a breath!
    My eye will never again see good.
The eye of him who sees me will behold me no more;
    your eyes will be on me, but I will be no more.
As the cloud disappears and vanishes away,
    so he who goes down to Sheol will come up no more.
10 He will never return to his house,
    and his place will not recognize 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 a sea monster,
    that You set a guard over me?
13 When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me,
    my couch will ease my complaint,’
14 then You scare me with dreams
    and terrify me with visions,
15 so that my soul chooses strangling,
    even death rather than my life.
16 I loathe my life; I would not live forever;
    let me alone, for my days are emptiness.

17 “What is man, that You should exalt him,
    and that You should set Your heart on him,
18 and that You should visit him every morning,
    and test him every moment?
19 How long until You look away from me?
    Will You not let me alone until I swallow my saliva?
20 Have I sinned? What am I doing to You,
    O You watcher of men?
Why have You set me as Your target,
    so that I am a burden to myself?
21 And why do You not pardon my transgression
    and take away my iniquity?
For now I will lie down in the dust;
    and You will seek me diligently, but I will not be.”