THE BOOK OF
JOB

Job 7 ©

Job, continuing in his complaints, describes his miserable condition, not only in general from the toilsome shortness of man’s life, v. 1, etc. But also from his own personal vexation, 3. Grievous disease¸ 5. And short prosperity in particular, 6. He turns himself to God, beseeching Him to bless the remainder of his life, which he supposes to be short, 7. Besides, he complains of the fierceness or violence of his affliction, 11. He being so weak, abject and impotent of himself, 17. He prays for the forgiveness of his sins, 20.

1

IS there not an 1appointed time to man upon earth? are not 2his days also like the days of an hireling?

2

As 3a servant earnestly 4desireth the 5shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the 6reward of his work:

3

So am I 7made to possess 8months of 9vanity, and wearisome nights 10are appointed to me.

4

When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night 11be gone? and I 12am full 13of tossings to and fro unto the 14dawning of the day.

5

My flesh is clothed with 15worms and 16clods 17of dust; my skin is 18broken, and become 19loathsome.

6

20My days are 21swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent 22without hope.

7

O 23remember that my life is 24wind:a mine eye shall no more see 25good.

8

The eye of him that hath seen 26me shall see me 27no more: 28thine eyes are upon me, and I am 29not.

9

As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the 30grave shall come 31up no more.

10

He shall return no more to his house, neither shall 32his place know him any more.

11

33Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain 34in the bitterness of my soul.

12

Am I a sea, or a 35whale, that thou settest a 36watch over me?

13

37When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;

14

Then thou scarest me with 38dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:

15

So that my soul chooseth 39strangling, and death rather 40than my life.

16

I 41loathe it; I would not live alway: let 42me alone; for myb days are 43vanity.

17

Whatcis man, 44that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?

18

And that thou shouldest 45visit him every 46morning, and 47try him 48every moment?

19

How long 49wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down 50my spittle?

20

I have 51sinned; what shall I do unto 52thee, O thou 53preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a 54mark against thee, so that I am 55a burden to myself?

21

56And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take 57away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and 58thou shalt seek me 59in the morning, but I shall 60not be.