Job 7

¹Is there not an appointed time to man vpon earth? and are not his dayes as the dayes of an hyreling?

²As a seruant longeth for the shadowe, and as an hyreling looketh for the ende of his worke,

³So haue I had as an inheritance the moneths of vanitie, and painefull nights haue bene appointed vnto me.

⁴If I layed me downe, I sayde, When shall I arise? and measuring the euening I am euen full with tossing to and from vnto the dawning of the day.

⁵My flesh is clothed with wormes and filthinesse of the dust: my skinne is rent, and become horrible.

⁶My dayes are swifter then a weauers shittle, and they are spent without hope.

⁷Remember that my life is but a wind, and that mine eye shall not returne to see pleasure.

⁸The eye that hath seene me, shall see me no more: thine eyes are vpon me, and I shall be no longer.

⁹As the cloude vanisheth and goeth away, so he that goeth downe to the graue, shall come vp no more.

¹⁰He shall returne no more to his house, neither shall his place knowe him any more.

¹¹Therefore I will not spare my mouth, but will speake in the trouble of my spirite, and muse in the bitternesse of my minde.

¹²Am I a sea or a whalefish, that thou keepest me in warde?

¹³When I say, My couch shall relieue me, and my bed shall bring comfort in my meditation,

¹⁴Then fearest thou me with dreames, and astonishest me with visions.

¹⁵Therefore my soule chuseth rather to be strangled and to die, then to be in my bones.

¹⁶I abhorre it, I shall not liue alway: spare me then, for my dayes are but vanitie.

¹⁷What is man, that thou doest magnifie him, and that thou settest thine heart vpon him?

¹⁸And doest visite him euery morning, and tryest him euery moment?

¹⁹Howe long will it be yer thou depart from me? thou wilt not let me alone whiles I may swallowe my spettle.

²⁰I haue sinned, what shall I do vnto thee? O thou preseruer of me, why hast thou set me as a marke against thee, so that I am a burden vnto my selfe?

²¹And why doest thou not pardon my trespasse? and take away mine iniquitie? for nowe shall I sleepe in the dust, and if thou seekest me in the morning, I shall not be found.

Job 7

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.