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Job Speaks about the Futility of Human Existence

“Isn’t a mortal’s stay on earth difficult
    like a hired hand’s daily work?
Like a slave, he longs for shade.
    Like a hired hand, he eagerly looks for his pay.
Likewise, I have been given months that are of no use,
    and I have inherited nights filled with misery.
        When I lie down, I ask,
            ‘When will I get up?’
                But the evening is long,
                    and I’m exhausted from tossing about until dawn.
My body is covered with maggots and scabs.
    My skin is crusted over with sores; then they ooze.
My days go swifter than a weaver’s shuttle.
    They are spent without hope.
Remember, my life is only a breath,
    and never again will my eyes see anything good.
The eye that watches over me will no longer see me.
    Your eye will look for me, but I’ll be gone.
As a cloud fades away and disappears,
    so a person goes into the grave and doesn’t come back again.
10 He doesn’t come back home again,
    and his household doesn’t recognize him anymore.
11 So I won’t keep my mouth shut,
    but I will speak from the distress that is in my spirit
        and complain about the bitterness in my soul.

Job Says to God: Leave Me Alone

12 “Am I the sea or a sea monster
    that you have set a guard over me?
13 When I say,
    ‘My couch may give me comfort.
    My bed may help me bear my pain,’
14 then you frighten me with dreams
    and terrify me with visions.
15 My throat would rather be choked.
    My body[a] would prefer death to these dreams.
16 I hate my life; I do not want to live forever.
    Leave me alone because my days are so brief.

17 “What is a mortal that you should make so much of him,
    that you should be concerned about him?
18 What is he that you should inspect him every morning
    and examine him every moment?
19 Why don’t you stop looking at me
    long enough to let me swallow my spit?[b]
20 If I sin, what can I possibly do to you
    since you insist on spying on people?
    Why do you make me your target?
    I’ve become a burden even to myself.
21 Why don’t you forgive my disobedience
    and take away my sin?
    Soon I’ll lie down in the dust.
    Then you will search for me, but I’ll be gone!”

Footnotes

  1. Job 7:15 Or “bones.”
  2. Job 7:19 English equivalent of this verse difficult.

“Do not mortals have hard service(A) on earth?(B)
    Are not their days like those of hired laborers?(C)
Like a slave longing for the evening shadows,(D)
    or a hired laborer waiting to be paid,(E)
so I have been allotted months of futility,
    and nights of misery have been assigned to me.(F)
When I lie down I think, ‘How long before I get up?’(G)
    The night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.(H)
My body is clothed with worms(I) and scabs,
    my skin is broken and festering.(J)

“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,(K)
    and they come to an end without hope.(L)
Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath;(M)
    my eyes will never see happiness again.(N)
The eye that now sees me will see me no longer;
    you will look for me, but I will be no more.(O)
As a cloud vanishes(P) and is gone,
    so one who goes down to the grave(Q) does not return.(R)
10 He will never come to his house again;
    his place(S) will know him no more.(T)

11 “Therefore I will not keep silent;(U)
    I will speak out in the anguish(V) of my spirit,
    I will complain(W) in the bitterness of my soul.(X)
12 Am I the sea,(Y) or the monster of the deep,(Z)
    that you put me under guard?(AA)
13 When I think my bed will comfort me
    and my couch will ease my complaint,(AB)
14 even then you frighten me with dreams
    and terrify(AC) me with visions,(AD)
15 so that I prefer strangling and death,(AE)
    rather than this body of mine.(AF)
16 I despise my life;(AG) I would not live forever.(AH)
    Let me alone;(AI) my days have no meaning.(AJ)

17 “What is mankind that you make so much of them,
    that you give them so much attention,(AK)
18 that you examine them every morning(AL)
    and test them(AM) every moment?(AN)
19 Will you never look away from me,(AO)
    or let me alone even for an instant?(AP)
20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you,(AQ)
    you who see everything we do?
Why have you made me your target?(AR)
    Have I become a burden to you?[a](AS)
21 Why do you not pardon my offenses
    and forgive my sins?(AT)
For I will soon lie down in the dust;(AU)
    you will search for me, but I will be no more.”(AV)

Footnotes

  1. Job 7:20 A few manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition and Septuagint; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text I have become a burden to myself.

Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?

As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:

So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

When 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.

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.

As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave 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 refrain my mouth; 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 whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaints;

14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:

15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.

16 I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.

17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?

18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?

19 How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

20 I 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?

21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.