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“People have a hard task on earth,
    and their days are like those of a laborer.
They are like a slave wishing for the evening shadows,
    like a laborer waiting to be paid.
But I am given months that are empty,
    and nights of misery have been given to me.
When I lie down, I think, ‘How long until I get up?’
    The night is long, and I toss until dawn.
My body is covered with worms and scabs,
    and my skin is broken and full of sores.

“My days go by faster than a weaver’s tool,
    and they come to an end without hope.
Remember, God, that my life is only a breath.
    My eyes will never see happy times again.
Those who see me now will see me no more;
    you will look for me, but I will be gone.
As a cloud disappears and is gone,
    people go to the grave and never return.
10 They will never come back to their houses again,
    and their places will not know them anymore.

11 “So I will not stay quiet;
    I will speak out in the suffering of my spirit.
    I will complain because I am so unhappy.
12 I am not the sea or the sea monster.
    So why have you set a guard over me?
13 Sometimes I think my bed will comfort me
    or that my couch will stop my complaint.
14 Then you frighten me with dreams
    and terrify me with visions.
15 My throat prefers to be choked;
    my bones welcome death.
16 I hate my life; I don’t want to live forever.
    Leave me alone, because my days have no meaning.

17 “Why do you make people so important
    and give them so much attention?
18 You examine them every morning
    and test them every moment.
19 Will you never look away from me
    or leave me alone even long enough to swallow?
20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you,
    you watcher of humans?
Why have you made me your target?
    Have I become a heavy load for you?
21 Why don’t you pardon my wrongs
    and forgive my sins?
I will soon lie down in the dust of death.
    Then you will search for me, but I will be no more.”

“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.