Job 7
1IS not the life of man on the earth a state of trial, and his days like the days of a hireling?
2Is he not like a servant, who in a shade is afraid of his lord? Or like a hireling waiting for his hire?
3Just so have I waited months in vain, and wearisome nights have been doled out to me.
4When I lay me down to rest, I say, When will it be day? And soon as I rise; I again say, When will it be evening? I am full of pains from evening till morning;
5and my body swarms with the putrefaction of worms: and I moisten the clods of earth with the ichor of ulcers.
6Though my life is swifter than a word; yet it is destroyed with vain hope.
7Remember therefore that my life is but a breath; and that mine eyes shall never return again to see good.
8The eye of him who seeth me now shall not see me again. Thine eyes are upon me and I am gone.
9I am like a cloud swept clean away from the sky. For when a man goeth down to the mansion of the dead
10he can never reascend again—he can never return again to his own house; nor shall his place know him anymore.
11For this cause then I will not refrain my mouth: I will speak though I am in anguish: though distressed, I will unfold the bitterness of my soul.
12Am I a sea or a dragon, that Thou hast set a guard over me?
13Did I say my bed will comfort me—I will converse with myself privately on my bed?
14Thou terrifiest me with dreams and affrightest me with visions.
15Wilt Thou drive away my life from my spirit; and yet keep my bones from death?
16For I am not to live forever, that I should bear patiently. Withdraw from me; for my life is vanity.
17For what is man, that Thou hast magnified him; or that Thou payest attention to him?
18Wilt Thou keep a watch upon him till the morning. And judge him to the time of going to rest?
19How long wilt Thou not let me alone: nor let me go, that I may swallow my spittle?
20If I have sinned what can I do? O Thou who knowest the hearts of men; why hast Thou set me up as Thy mark to shoot at? Am I indeed a burden to Thee?
21Why hast Thou not made an oblivion of my transgression; or a purification for my sin? Now therefore let me depart into the earth: and when Thou risest in the morning, I am no more.