Job 7

Job Continues: Life Seems Futile

1 “Is not man consigned to labor on earth? ‡ Job 14:5-6Psa 39:4Job 5:7Job 14:13-14Lev 25:50Deu 15:18Ecc 8:8Isa 40:2 +4

Are not his days like those of a hired hand?

2 Like a slave he longs for shade; ‡ Lev 19:13Deu 24:15Jas 5:4Mal 3:5Jer 6:4Psa 119:131Psa 143:6

like a hireling he waits for his wages.

3 So I am allotted months of futility, ‡ Psa 6:6Ecc 1:14Job 16:7Job 29:2Psa 39:5

and nights of misery are appointed me.

4 When I lie down I think: ‡ Deu 28:67Job 7:13-14Psa 77:4Job 30:17Psa 130:6Psa 6:6Job 17:12Isa 54:11 +1

‘When will I get up?’

But the night drags on,

and I toss and turn until dawn.

5 My flesh is clothed with worms ‡ Isa 14:11Job 17:14Job 2:7-8Act 12:23Ezk 20:43Isa 1:6Isa 66:24Job 19:26 +4

and encrusted with dirt;

my skin is cracked and festering.

6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; ‡ Job 9:25Job 17:15Job 17:111Pe 1:24Isa 38:12-13Isa 40:6-7Job 16:22Pro 14:32 +11

they come to an end without hope.

7 Remember that my life is but a breath. ‡ Jas 4:14Psa 78:39Jer 15:15Psa 89:47Job 10:21-22Psa 74:18Psa 89:50Gen 42:36 +4

My eyes will never again see happiness.

8 The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. ‡ Job 20:9Psa 37:36Job 8:18Job 13:27Job 14:3Psa 39:11Psa 90:8-9

You will look for me, but I will be no more.

9 As a cloud vanishes and is gone, ‡ 2Sa 14:14Job 10:21Job 30:152Sa 12:23Job 14:10-14Job 16:22Psa 39:13Isa 38:11 +2

so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up.

10 He never returns to his house; ‡ Job 8:18Job 20:9Psa 103:16Job 27:21Job 27:23

his place remembers him no more.

11 Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; ‡ 1Sa 1:10Psa 40:9Job 10:1Isa 38:15Isa 38:17Job 21:25Job 6:262Co 2:4 +9

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, ‡ Ezk 32:2-3Job 38:6-11Job 7:17Lam 3:7Job 41:1-34

that You must keep me under guard?

13 When I think my bed will comfort me ‡ Psa 6:6Psa 77:4Job 7:3-4Job 9:27-28

and my couch will ease my complaint,

14 then You frighten me with dreams ‡ Dan 2:1Gen 40:5-7Gen 41:8Jdg 7:13-14Mat 27:19

and terrify me with visions,

15 so that I would prefer strangling and death ‡ 2Sa 17:23Mat 27:5

over my life in this body.

16 I loathe my life! I would not live forever. ‡ 1Ki 19:4Job 10:1Job 14:6Job 9:21Job 10:20Job 6:9Jon 4:8Psa 39:13 +8

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

17 What is man that You should exalt him, ‡ Heb 2:6Psa 8:4Psa 144:3Job 34:14-15Job 7:121Sa 24:14

that You should set Your heart upon him,

18 that You attend to him every morning, ‡ 1Pe 1:7Isa 38:12-13Jer 9:7Dan 12:10Deu 8:16Exo 20:5Gen 22:1Isa 26:14 +3

and test him every moment?

19 Will You never look away from me, ‡ Job 9:18Job 14:6Psa 13:1-3Psa 6:3Psa 94:3Rev 6:10

or leave me alone to swallow my spittle?

20 If I have sinned, what have I done to You, ‡ Lam 3:12Job 3:24Job 7:11-12Psa 36:6Job 13:26Job 14:16Job 16:12-14Job 22:5 +9

O watcher of mankind?

Why have You made me Your target,

so that I am a burden to You ¹?

21 Why do You not pardon my transgression ‡ Dan 12:2Job 10:141Jn 1:9Ecc 12:7Isa 64:9Lam 5:20-221Jn 3:52Sa 24:10 +14

and take away my iniquity?

For soon I will lie down in the dust;

You will seek me, but I will be no more.”