Job’s Life Seems Futile

[a]Is a person not (A)forced to labor on earth,
And are his days not like the days of (B)a hired worker?
As a slave pants for the shade,
And as a hired worker who eagerly waits for his wages,
So I am allotted worthless months,
And (C)nights of trouble are apportioned to me.
When I (D)lie down, I say,
‘When shall I arise?’
But the night continues,
And I am continually tossing until dawn.
My (E)flesh is clothed with maggots and a crust of dirt,
My skin hardens and [b]oozes.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 7:1 Lit Has not man compulsory labor
  2. Job 7:5 Lit melts

The human condition

Isn’t slavery everyone’s condition on earth,
    our days like those of a hired worker?
        Like a slave we pant for a shadow,
            await our task like a hired worker.
So I have inherited months of emptiness;
    nights of toil have been measured out for me.
If I lie down and think—When will I get up?—
    night drags on,[a] and restless thoughts fill me until dawn.
My flesh is covered with worms and crusted earth;
    my skin hardens and oozes.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 7:4 Heb uncertain