Job

7 “Is not the life of mortal man on earth like compulsory labor,

And are not his days like those of a hired worker?+

 2 Like a slave, he longs for the shadow,

And like a hired worker, he waits for his wages.+

 3 Thus I have been assigned months of futility

And nights of misery have been counted out for me.+

 5 My flesh is covered with maggots and clods of dirt;+

My skin is full of scabs and pus.+

 6 My days go by more quickly than a weaver’s shuttle,+

And they come to an end without hope.+

 7 Remember that my life is wind,+

That my eye will never again see happiness.*

 8 The eye that sees me now will see me no more;

Your eyes will look for me, but I will be gone.+

 9 Like a cloud that fades and vanishes,

The one who goes down to the Grave* does not come back up.+

10 He will not return again to his house,

And his place will acknowledge him no more.+

I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;

I will complain in my bitter distress!*+

12 Am I the sea or a sea monster,

That you should set a guard over me?

13 When I say, ‘My couch will comfort me;

My bed will help ease my misery,’

14 Then you terrify me with dreams

And frighten me with visions,

15 So that I* would choose suffocation,

Yes, death rather than this body of mine.*+

17 What is mortal man that you should concern yourself with him

And fix your attention* on him?+

18 Why do you inspect him every morning

And test him every moment?+

19 Will you not look away from me

And leave me alone long enough to swallow my saliva?+

21 Why do you not pardon my transgression

And excuse my error?

For soon I will lie down in the dust,+

And you will look for me, but I will be gone.”