Job

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Job’s Life Seems Futile

7 
“[a]Is a person not forced to labor on earth,

And are his days not like the days of a hired worker?

2 As a slave pants for the shade,

And as a hired worker who eagerly waits for his wages,

3 So I am allotted worthless months,

And nights of trouble are apportioned to me.

4 When I lie down, I say,

‘When shall I arise?’

But the night continues,

And I am continually tossing until dawn.

5 My flesh is clothed with maggots and a crust of dirt,

My skin hardens and [b]oozes.

6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,

And they come to an end without hope.

7 “Remember that my life is a mere breath;

My eye will not see goodness again.

8 The eye of him who sees me will no longer look at me;

Your eyes will be on me, but I will not exist.

9 When a cloud vanishes, it is gone;

In the same way one who goes down to [c]Sheol does not come up.

10 He will not return to his house again,

Nor will his place know about 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 the sea monster,

That You set a guard over me?

13 If I say, ‘My couch will comfort me,

My bed will [d]ease my complaint,’

14 Then You frighten me with dreams,

And terrify me by visions,

15 So that my soul would choose suffocation,

Death rather than my [e]pains.

16 I [f]waste away; I will not live forever.

Leave me alone, for my days are only a breath.

17 What is man that You exalt him,

And that You [g]are concerned about him,

18 That You examine him every morning

And put him to the test every moment?

19 [h]Will You never turn Your gaze away from me,

Nor leave me alone until I swallow my spittle?

20 Have I sinned? What have I done to You,

Watcher of mankind?

Why have You made me Your target,

So that I am a burden to myself?

21 Why then do You not forgive my wrongdoing

And take away my [i]guilt?

For now I will lie down in the dust;

And You will search for me, but I will no longer exist.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 7:1 Lit Has not man compulsory labor
  2. Job 7:5 Lit melts
  3. Job 7:9 I.e., the netherworld
  4. Job 7:13 Lit bear
  5. Job 7:15 Lit bones
  6. Job 7:16 Or loathe
  7. Job 7:17 Lit set Your heart on
  8. Job 7:19 Lit How long will You not
  9. Job 7:21 Or unjust deed