Job 7

1 “Is not man [a human being, enosh] consigned to labor [like a soldier in a warfare, as in a campaign] on earth [the land, a country or territory]? Are not his days [the time of his life] like those of a hired hand [a servant working for payment, a hireling]? word study 2 Like a [faithful, obedient] slave [servant, bondservant] he longs [yearns, earnestly desires] for shade [shadow, protection]; like a [daily, temporary] hireling [laborer, worker] he waits [expects, looks forward to] for his wages [reward, payment]. word study 3 So [thus, in this manner] I am allotted [to inherit, to possess] months [lunar cycles, periods of time] of futility [vanity, emptiness, uselessness], and nights [periods of darkness, adversity] of misery [trouble, hardship, pain] are appointed [numbered, assigned] me. word study 4 When I lie down [to rest, to sleep] I think: ‘When [how long, at what time] will I get up?’ But the night [evening, period of darkness] drags on [is extended, prolonged], and I toss [am filled with tossings] and turn [to and fro] until [till, as far as] dawn [twilight, morning light]. word study 5 My flesh [body, human nature] is clothed [wrapped, covered] with worms [maggots] and encrusted [caked, covered] with dirt [dust, earth]; my skin [outer layer, hide] is cracked [broken, split] and festering [infected, loathsome]. word study 6 My days [swifter than a weaver’s thread] are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle [a weaving machine]; they come [are spent, are consumed] to an end [without any hope, to a stop] without [lacking] hope [expectancy, a cord that attaches]. word study 7 Remember [to recall, mark in memory] that my life [existence, breath of life] is but a [fleeting, temporary] breath [wind, spirit]. My eyes [source of sight, understanding] will never again [turn back, return to] see [look after, experience] happiness [good, pleasant things]. word study 8 The eye [source of sight] that beholds [sees, observes] me will no longer [not anymore, never again] see [behold, gaze upon] me. You will look [search, seek] for me, but I will be [exist, have being] no more [nothing, gone, nonexistent]. word study 9 As a cloud vanishes [consumed and vanisheth away] and is gone, so he who goes [down to the underworld, to the place of no return] down to Sheol [the grave, the underworld] does not [ever] come back up. word study 10 He [never again] never returns [to his former state] to his house [dwelling place, home]; his place [location] remembers [knows, recognizes] him no more [not again, still]. word study 11 Therefore I [also, even] will not restrain [withhold, spare] my mouth [lip, speech]; I will speak [communicate, express] in the anguish [trouble, distress] of my spirit [breath, soul]; I will complain [muse, lament] in the bitterness [pain, sorrow] of my soul [living being, essence]. word study 12 Am I the sea [a large body of water], or the monster [a sea-serpent, dragon] of the deep, that You must keep me under guard [in custody, as a prisoner]? word study 13 When I think [say to myself, consider] my bed [place of rest, couch] will comfort [bring solace, relieve] me and my couch [place of repose, where I lay] will ease [lift, alleviate] my complaint [trouble, distress, meditation], word study 14 then You frighten [scare, affright] me with dreams [visions of the night, prophetic messages] and terrify [startle, dismay] me with visions [revelations, divine communications] [through spiritual encounters, from the spiritual realm], word study 15 so that I would prefer [choosing to embrace] strangling [choking, a mode of death] and death [the end of life, separation from God] over my life [existence, being] in this body [my bones, physical form]. word study 16 I loathe [abhor, detest] my life [existence, being alive]! I would not [do not desire to] live [have life, exist] forever [always, eternally]. Leave [spare, cease from] me alone [to myself], for my days [time on earth, lifespan] are but [merely, only] a breath [vanity, emptiness]. word study 17 What [in significance, or importance] is man [human, mankind, enosh] that You should exalt [magnify, make great] him, that You should set [place, appoint, or fix] Your heart [mind, feelings, or will] upon him [toward him, or on his behalf], word study 18 that You [visit, oversee, or inspect] attend to him every morning [at the break of day], and [examine, test, or try] test him every moment [instant, or brief span of time]? word study 19 Will You never [cease to gaze at me] look away from me, or [suffer me to have a moment’s peace] leave me alone to [gulp down, swallow completely] swallow my spittle? word study 20 If I have sinned [committed wrongdoing, missed the mark], what have I done to You, O watcher [guardian, preserver] of mankind [humanity, men]? Why have You made me Your target [mark, object of attack], so that I am a burden [load, weight] to You [myself, as a weariness] ? word study 21 Why do You not pardon [forgive, take away] my transgression [rebellion, sin] and take away my iniquity [moral evil, guilt]? For soon I will lie down [rest, sleep] in the dust [dry earth, mortal remains]; You will seek [search diligently, look for] me, but I will be no more [nothing, gone, deceased].” word study