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.
My days are (F)swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,
And they come to an end (G)without hope.

“Remember that my life (H)is a mere breath;
My eye will (I)not see goodness again.
The (J)eye of him who sees me will no longer look at me;
Your eyes will be on me, but (K)I will not exist.
When a (L)cloud vanishes, it is gone;
In the same way (M)one who goes down to [c](N)Sheol does not come up.
10 He will not return to his house again,
Nor will (O)his place know about him anymore.

11 “Therefore (P)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 (Q)the sea monster,
That You set a guard over me?
13 If I say, ‘(R)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](S)waste away; I will not live forever.
Leave me alone, (T)for my days are only a breath.
17 (U)What is man that You exalt him,
And that You [g]are concerned about him,
18 That (V)You examine him every morning
And put him to the test every moment?
19 [h](W)Will You never turn Your gaze away from me,
Nor leave me alone until I swallow my spittle?
20 (X)Have I sinned? What have I done to You,
(Y)Watcher of mankind?
Why have You made me Your target,
So that I am a burden to myself?
21 Why then (Z)do You not forgive my wrongdoing
And take away my [i]guilt?
For now I will (AA)lie down in the dust;
And You will search for me, (AB)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

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