Job 7 - New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Job’s Life Seems Futile

7 “[a]Is a person not (A)forced to labor on earth,
And are his days not like the days of (B)a hired worker?
2 As a slave pants for the shade,
And as a hired worker who eagerly waits for his wages,
3 So I am allotted worthless months,
And (C)nights of trouble are apportioned to me.
4 When I (D)lie down, I say,
‘When shall I arise?’
But the night continues,
And I am continually tossing until dawn.
5 My (E)flesh is clothed with maggots and a crust of dirt,
My skin hardens and [b]oozes.
6 My days are (F)swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,
And they come to an end (G)without hope.

7 “Remember that my life (H)is a mere breath;
My eye will (I)not see goodness again.
8 The (J)eye of him who sees me will no longer look at me;
Your eyes will be on me, but (K)I will not exist.
9 When a (L)cloud vanishes, it is gone;
In the same way (M)one who goes down to [c](N)Sheol does not come up.
10 He will not return to his house again,
Nor will (O)his place know about him anymore.

11 “Therefore (P)I will not restrain my mouth;
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit,
I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I the sea, or (Q)the sea monster,
That You set a guard over me?
13 If I say, ‘(R)My couch will comfort me,
My bed will [d]ease my complaint,’
14 Then You frighten me with dreams,
And terrify me by visions,
15 So that my soul would choose suffocation,
Death rather than my [e]pains.
16 I [f](S)waste away; I will not live forever.
Leave me alone, (T)for my days are only a breath.
17 (U)What is man that You exalt him,
And that You [g]are concerned about him,
18 That (V)You examine him every morning
And put him to the test every moment?
19 [h](W)Will You never turn Your gaze away from me,
Nor leave me alone until I swallow my spittle?
20 (X)Have I sinned? What have I done to You,
(Y)Watcher of mankind?
Why have You made me Your target,
So that I am a burden to myself?
21 Why then (Z)do You not forgive my wrongdoing
And take away my [i]guilt?
For now I will (AA)lie down in the dust;
And You will search for me, (AB)but I will no longer exist.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 7:1 Lit Has not man compulsory labor
  2. Job 7:5 Lit melts
  3. Job 7:9 I.e., the netherworld
  4. Job 7:13 Lit bear
  5. Job 7:15 Lit bones
  6. Job 7:16 Or loathe
  7. Job 7:17 Lit set Your heart on
  8. Job 7:19 Lit How long will You not
  9. Job 7:21 Or unjust deed

Cross references

  1. Job 7:1 : Job 5:7; 10:17; 14:1, 14
  2. Job 7:1 : Job 14:6
  3. Job 7:3 : Job 16:7
  4. Job 7:4 : Deut 28:67; Job 7:13, 14
  5. Job 7:5 : Job 2:7; 17:14
  6. Job 7:6 : Job 9:25
  7. Job 7:6 : Job 13:15; 14:19; 17:15, 16; 19:10
  8. Job 7:7 : Job 7:16; Ps 78:39; James 4:14
  9. Job 7:7 : Job 9:25
  10. Job 7:8 : Job 8:18; 20:9
  11. Job 7:8 : Job 7:21
  12. Job 7:9 : Job 30:15
  13. Job 7:9 : Job 3:13-19
  14. Job 7:9 : 2 Sam 12:23; Job 11:8; 14:13; 17:13, 16
  15. Job 7:10 : Job 8:18; 20:9; 27:21, 23
  16. Job 7:11 : Job 10:1; 21:4; 23:2; Ps 40:9
  17. Job 7:12 : Ezek 32:2, 3
  18. Job 7:13 : Job 7:4; Ps 6:6
  19. Job 7:16 : Job 6:9; 9:21; 10:1
  20. Job 7:16 : Job 7:7
  21. Job 7:17 : Job 22:2; Ps 8:4; 144:3; Heb 2:6
  22. Job 7:18 : Job 14:3
  23. Job 7:19 : Job 9:18; 10:20; 14:6
  24. Job 7:20 : Job 35:3, 6
  25. Job 7:20 : Ps 36:6
  26. Job 7:21 : Job 9:28; 10:14
  27. Job 7:21 : Job 10:9
  28. Job 7:21 : Job 7:8

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