Job Continues: Life Seems Futile
1Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
2As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:
3So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
4When 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.
5My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.
6My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.
8The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.
9As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.
10He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
11Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?
13When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;
14Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:
15So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.
16I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
17What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
18And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
19How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
20I 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?
21And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Job Continues: Life Seems Futile
1 “Isn’t a man forced to labor on earth? Aren’t his days like the days of a hired hand?
2 As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling who looks for his wages,
3 so am I made to possess months of misery, wearisome nights are appointed to me.
4 When I lie down, I say, ‘When shall I arise, and the night be gone?’ I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.
5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.
6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7 Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye shall no more see good.
8 The eye of him who sees me shall see me no more. Your eyes shall be on me, but I shall not be.
9 As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol 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 keep silent. 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 sea monster, that you put a guard over me?
13 When I say, ‘My bed shall comfort me. My couch shall ease my complaint;’
14 then you scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions:
15 so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than my bones.
16 I loathe my life. I don’t want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
17 What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,
18 that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?
19 How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?
20 If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself?
21 Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I shall not be.”
Job Continues: Life Seems Futile
1 “Is not man consigned to labor on earth?
Are not his days like those of a hired hand?
2 Like a slave he longs for shade;
like a hireling he waits for his wages.
3 So I am allotted months of futility,
and nights of misery are appointed me.
4 When I lie down I think:
‘When will I get up?’
But the night drags on,
and I toss and turn until dawn.
5 My flesh is clothed with worms
and encrusted with dirt;
my skin is cracked and festering.
6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle;
they come to an end without hope.
7 Remember that my life is but a breath.
My eyes will never again see happiness.
8 The eye that beholds me will no longer see me.
You will look for me, but I will be no more.
9 As a cloud vanishes and is gone,
so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up.
10 He never returns to his house;
his place remembers him no more.
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 monster of the deep,
that You must keep me under guard?
13 When I think my bed will comfort me
and my couch will ease my complaint,
14 then You frighten me with dreams
and terrify me with visions,
15 so that I would prefer strangling and death
over my life in this body.
16 I loathe my life! I would not live forever.
Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
17 What is man that You should exalt him,
that You should set Your heart upon him,
18 that You attend to him every morning,
and test him every moment?
19 Will You never look away from me,
or leave me alone to swallow my spittle?
20 If I have sinned, what have I done to You,
O watcher of mankind?
Why have You made me Your target,
so that I am a burden to You a?
21 Why do You not pardon my transgression
and take away my iniquity?
For soon I will lie down in the dust;
You will seek me, but I will be no more.”
Footnotes:
20 a LXX; Hebrew to myself
Job Continues: Life Seems Futile
1Is there not a warfare to man on earth? And as the days of an hireling his days?
2As a servant desireth the shadow, And as a hireling expecteth his wage,
3So I have been caused to inherit months of vanity, And nights of misery they numbered to me.
4If I lay down then I said, 'When do I rise!' And evening hath been measured, And I have been full of tossings till dawn.
5Clothed hath been my flesh with worms, And a clod of dust, My skin hath been shrivelled and is loathsome,
6My days swifter than a weaving machine, And they are consumed without hope.
7Remember Thou that my life is a breath, Mine eye turneth not back to see good.
8The eye of my beholder beholdeth me not. Thine eyes are upon me -- and I am not.
9Consumed hath been a cloud, and it goeth, So he who is going down to Sheol cometh not up.
10He turneth not again to his house, Nor doth his place discern him again.
11Also I -- I withhold not my mouth -- I speak in the distress of my spirit, I talk in the bitterness of my soul.
12A sea -monster am I, or a dragon, That thou settest over me a guard?
13When I said, 'My bed doth comfort me,' He taketh away in my talking my couch.
14And thou hast affrighted me with dreams, And from visions thou terrifiest me,
15And my soul chooseth strangling, Death rather than my bones.
16I have wasted away -- not to the age do I live. Cease from me, for my days are vanity.
17What is man that Thou dost magnify him? And that Thou settest unto him Thy heart?
18And inspectest him in the mornings, In the evenings dost try him?
19How long dost Thou not look from me? Thou dost not desist till I swallow my spittle.
20I have sinned, what do I to Thee, O watcher of man? Why hast Thou set me for a mark to Thee, And I am for a burden to myself -- and what?
21Thou dost not take away my transgression, And cause to pass away mine iniquity, Because now, for dust I lie down: And Thou hast sought me -- and I am not!
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