Job 7

7TH CHAPTER

Job Speaks about the Futility of Human Existence

¹“Isn’t a mortal’s stay on earth difficult 

like a hired hand’s daily ⸤work⸥? 

²Like a slave, he longs for shade. 

Like a hired hand, he eagerly looks for his pay. 

³Likewise, I have been given months that are of no use, 

and I have inherited nights filled with misery. 

⁴When I lie down, I ask, 

‘When will I get up?’ 

But the evening is long, 

and I’m exhausted from tossing about until dawn. 

⁵My body is covered with maggots and scabs. 

My skin is crusted over with sores; then they ooze. 

⁶My days go swifter than a weaver’s shuttle. 

They are spent without hope. 

⁷Remember, my life is only a breath, 

and never again will my eyes see anything good. 

⁸The eye that watches over me will no longer see me. 

Your eye will look for me, but I’ll be gone. 

⁹As a cloud fades away and disappears, 

so a person goes into the grave and doesn’t come back again. 

¹⁰He doesn’t come back home again, 

and his household doesn’t recognize him anymore. 

¹¹So 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? 

¹³When I say, 

‘My couch may give me comfort. 

My bed may help me bear my pain,’ 

¹⁴then you frighten me with dreams 

and terrify me with visions. 

¹⁵My throat would rather be choked. 

My body^awould prefer death ⸤to these dreams⸥. 

¹⁶I 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? 

¹⁹Why don’t you stop looking at me 

long enough to let me swallow my spit? 

²⁰If 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. 

²¹Why 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!”