Job 7

¹ Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of a hireling?

² As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as a hireling looketh for the reward of his work:

³ So am I allotted months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed me.

⁴ When I lie down I say, When shall I arise? and the night is long, and I am full of tossing to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

⁵ My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.

⁶ My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.

⁷ Remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

⁸ The eye of him that sees me shall see me no more: thy eyes are upon me, and I am not.

⁹ As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goes down to the grave shall come up no more.

¹⁰ He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

¹¹ Therefore I will not keep silence: I will speak, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

¹² I will say to God, Do not condemn me; show me wherefore you contend with me.

¹³ Is it good unto you that you should oppress, that you should despise the work of your hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

¹⁴ Have you eyes of flesh? or see you as man sees?

¹⁵ Are your days as the days of man? are your years as man’s days,

¹⁶ That you enquire after mine iniquity, and search after my sin,

¹⁷ And knowest that I am not wicked? and there is none that can deliver out of your hand?

¹⁸ Your hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet you dost destroy me.

¹⁹ Remember, I beseech you, that you have made me as the clay; and will you turn me into dust again?

²⁰ Did you not pour me out as milk, and curdle me like cheese?

²¹ You clothed me with skin and flesh, and didst knit me together with bones and sinews.

²² Life and mercy have you granted me, and your visitation preserved my spirit.

²³ Yet now you have hid your face, and I am troubled.

²⁴ To you have I cried, and am not heard: I have stood, and am not regarded.

²⁵ You are cruel unto me with your strong hand: you revile me with your counsel.

²⁶ You snatch me away with tempest, and multiply my wounds without cause.

²⁷ You will not allow me to take my breath, but you fill me with bitterness.

²⁸ I will speak, and will not hold my peace: I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.