1 “Do not mortals have hard service on earth?

Are not their days like those of hired laborers?

2 Like a slave longing for the evening shadows,

or a hired laborer waiting to be paid,

3 so I have been allotted months of futility,

and nights of misery have been assigned to me.

1 “Has not man a hard service on earth,

and are not his days like the days of a hired hand?

2 Like a slave who longs for the shadow,

and like a hired hand who looks for his wages,

3 so I am allotted months of emptiness,

and nights of misery are apportioned to me.

1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? Are not his days also like the days of an hireling? 2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, And as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work: 3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, And wearisome nights are appointed to me.

1 “Is not all human life a struggle?

Our lives are like that of a hired hand,

2 like a worker who longs for the shade,

like a servant waiting to be paid.

3 I, too, have been assigned months of futility,

long and weary nights of misery.

1 “Is there not a time of hard service for man on earth?

Are not his days also like the days of a hired man?

2 Like a servant who earnestly desires the shade,

And like a hired man who eagerly looks for his wages,

3 So I have been allotted months of futility,

And wearisome nights have been appointed to me.

1 “People have a hard task on earth,

and their days are like those of a laborer.

2 They are like a slave wishing for the evening shadows,

like a laborer waiting to be paid.

3 But I am given months that are empty,

and nights of misery have been given to me.

1 Is there not a warfare to man upon earth?

And are not his days like the days of a hireling?

2 As a servant that earnestly desireth the shadow,

And as a hireling that looketh for his wages:

3 So am I made to possess months of misery,

And wearisome nights are appointed to me.

1 Hath not man a life of labour upon earth? and are not his days like the days of a hireling? 2 As a bondman earnestly desireth the shadow, and a hireling expecteth his wages, 3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

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

like a hired hand’s daily ⸤work⸥? 

2 Like a slave, he longs for shade. 

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

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

and I have inherited nights filled with misery. 

1 Isn’t mankind consigned to forced labor on earth?

Are not his days like those of a hired hand?

2 Like a slave he longs for shade;

like a hired man he waits for his pay.

3 So I have been made to inherit months of futility,

and troubled nights have been assigned to me.

1 “Do not human beings have a hard service on earth,

and are not their days like the days of a laborer?

2 Like a slave who longs for the shadow,

and like laborers who look for their wages,

3 so I am allotted months of emptiness,

and nights of misery are apportioned to me.

1 “Does not a human being have hard service on earth?

And are not his days like the days of a laborer?

2 Like a slave he longs for the shadow,

and like a laborer he waits for his wages.

3 So I had to inherit months of worthlessness,

and nights of misery are apportioned to me.

1 Job continued,

“Doesn’t every man have to work hard on this earth?

Aren’t his days like the days of a hired worker?

2 I’ve been like a slave

who longs for the evening shadows to come.

I’ve been like a hired worker

who can hardly wait to get paid.

3 I’ve been given several months that were useless to me.

My nights have been filled with suffering.