Job 7

Job: My Days Are Swifter Than a Weaver’s Shuttle

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Is Not a Mortal’s Life a Trial?

7:1“Is not a human being’s life on earth a trial,
and his existence like that of a worker hired for the day?

7:2Or like a servant fearing his master and obtaining shade,
or like a hired worker waiting for his wages,

7:3so I too endured empty months,
and nights of pain have been given to me.

7:4If I lie down, I say, ‘When will it be day?’
And when I rise, again, ‘When will it be evening?’
I am filled with pains from evening until morning.

7:5My body is fouled with the decay of worms;
I dissolve clods of earth as I scrape off the discharge.

7:6My life is lighter than chatter
and has perished in empty hope.

7:7Remember, then, that my life is a breath,
and my eye will no longer return to see good.

7:8The eye of the one who sees me will no longer look upon me;
Your eyes will be upon me, and I will be no more,

7:9like a cloud cleared away from heaven.
For if a person goes down to Hades, he will never come up again,

7:10nor will he ever return again to his own house,
nor will his place recognize him any longer.

7:11So I too will not restrain my mouth;
I will speak in my distress;
held fast, I will disclose the bitterness of my soul.

7:12Am I a sea or a dragon,
that You posted a guard over me?

7:13I said, ‘My bed will comfort me;
in my couch I will privately bring up a matter with myself,’

7:14You frighten me with dreams
and overwhelm me with visions.

7:15You will release my soul from my breath,
and my bones from death.

7:16For I will not live forever, so as to keep enduring;
leave me alone, for my life is empty.

7:17For what is a human being, that You magnified him,
or that You give Your mind to him,

7:18or that You visit him until morning
and judge him for rest?

7:19How long will You not leave me alone,
nor let me go until I swallow my saliva in pain?

7:20If I sinned, what can I do to You,
You who understand the human mind?
Why have You made me Your accuser,
and why am I a burden to You?

7:21Why have You not brought about forgetfulness of my lawlessness
and cleansing of my sin?
But now I will depart into the earth;
at daybreak I am no more.”

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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.