Job 7

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Is not human life on earth just conscript service? Do we not live a hireling's life?	1 Is not man's life on earth a drudgery? Are not his days those of a hireling?
2 Like a slave, sighing for the shade, or a hireling with no thought but for his wages,	2 He is a slave who longs for the shade, a hireling who waits for his wages.
3 I have months of futility assigned to me, nights of suffering to be my lot.	3 So I have been assigned months of misery, and troubled nights have been told off for me.
4 Lying in bed I wonder, 'When wil it be day?' No sooner up than, 'When wil evening come?' And crazythoughts obsess me til twilight fal s.	4 If in bed I say, "When shall I arise?" then the night drags on; I am filled with restlessness until the dawn.
5 Vermin and loathsome scabs cover my body; my skin is cracked and oozes pus.	5 My flesh is clothed with worms and scabs; my skin cracks and festers;
6 Swifter than a weaver's shuttle my days have passed, and vanished, leaving no hope behind.	6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle; they come to an end without hope.
7 Remember that my life is but a breath, and that my eyes will never again see joy.	7 Remember that my life is like the wind; I shall not see happiness again.
8 The eye that once saw me wil look on me no more, your eyes wil turn my way, and I shal not be there.	8 The eye that now sees me shall no more behold me; as you look at me, I shall be gone.
9 A cloud dissolves and is gone, so no one who goes down to Sheol ever comes up again,	9 As a cloud dissolves and vanishes, so he who goes down to the nether world shall come up no more.
10 ever comes home again, and his house knows that person no more.	10 He shall not again return to his house; his place shall know him no more.
11 That is why I cannot keep quiet: in my anguish of spirit I shal speak, in my bitterness of soul I shalcomplain.	11 My own utterance I will not restrain; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I the Sea, or some sea monster, that you should keep me under guard?	12 Am I the sea, or a monster of the deep, that you place a watch over me? Why have you set me up as an object of attack; or why should I be a target for you?
13 If I say, 'My bed wil comfort me, my couch wil lighten my complaints,'	13 When I say, "My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint,"
14 you then frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions,	14 Then you affright me with dreams and with visions terrify me,
15 so that strangling would seem welcome in comparison, yes, death preferable to what I suffer.	15 So that I should prefer choking and death rather than my pains.
16 I am wasting away, my life is not unending; leave me then, for my days are but a breath.	16 I waste away: I cannot live forever; let me alone, for my days are but a breath.
17 What are human beings that you should take them so seriously, subjecting them to your scrutiny,	17 What is man, that you make much of him, or pay him any heed?
18 that morning after morning you should examine them and at every instant test them?	18 You observe him with each new day and try him at every moment!
19 Wil you never take your eyes off me long enough for me to swal ow my spittle?	19 How long will it be before you look away from me, and let me alone long enough to swallow my spittle?
20 Suppose I have sinned, what have I done to you, you tireless watcher of humanity? Why do youchoose me as your target? Why should I be a burden to you?	20 Though I have sinned, what can I do to you, O watcher of men?
21 Can you not tolerate my sin, not overlook my fault? For soon I shal be lying in the dust, you wil lookfor me and I shal be no more.	21 Why do you not pardon my offense, or take away my guilt? For soon I shall lie down in the dust; and should you seek me I shall then be gone.