New American Standard Bible | ►► |
Job’s Life Seems Futile 1“[a]Is a person not forced to labor on earth, And are his days not like the days of a hired worker?
2“As a slave pants for the shade, And as a hired worker who eagerly waits for his wages,
3So I am allotted worthless months, And nights of trouble are apportioned to me.
4“When I lie down, I say, ‘When shall I arise?’ But the night continues, And I am continually tossing until dawn.
5“My flesh is clothed with maggots and a crust of dirt, My skin hardens and [b]oozes.
6“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And they come to an end without hope.
7“Remember that my life is a mere breath; My eye will not see goodness again.
8“The eye of him who sees me will no longer look at me; Your eyes will be on me, but I will not exist.
9“When a cloud vanishes, it is gone; In the same way one who goes down to [c]Sheol does not come up.
10“He will not return to his house again, Nor will his place know about him anymore.
11“Therefore 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 the sea monster, That You set a guard over me?
13“If I say, ‘My couch will comfort me, My bed will [d]ease my complaint,’
14Then You frighten me with dreams, And terrify me by visions,
15So that my soul would choose suffocation, Death rather than my [e]pains.
16“I [f]waste away; I will not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are only a breath.
17“What is man that You exalt him, And that You [g]are concerned about him,
18That You examine him every morning And put him to the test every moment?
19“[h]Will You never turn Your gaze away from me, Nor leave me alone until I swallow my spittle?
20“Have I sinned? What have I done to You, |
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