(KJV) Job 7¹

⥃Job Continues: Life Seems Futile

[1] [Is there²] not an appointed time³ to man upon earth? [are not] his days also like the days⁴ of an hireling? [2] As a servant earnestly desireth⁵ the shadow⁶, and as an hireling⁷ looketh for [the reward of] his work: [3] So am I made to possess months of⁸ vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me. [4] When⁹ I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night¹⁰ be gone? and I am full of tossings¹¹ to and fro unto the dawning of the day. [5] My flesh¹² is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome¹³. [6] My days are swifter¹⁴ than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope¹⁵. [7] O remember¹⁶ that my life¹⁷ [is] wind: mine eye shall no more see¹⁸ good. [8] The eye¹⁹ of him that hath seen me shall see me no [more]: thine eyes²⁰ [are] upon me, and I [am] not²¹. [9] [As] the²² cloud²³ is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no [more]. [10] He shall return²⁴ no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more. [11] Therefore I will not²⁵ refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish²⁶ of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness²⁷ of my soul. [12] [Am] I a sea²⁸, or a whale²⁹, that thou settest a watch over me? [13] When I say, My bed³⁰ shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint; [14] Then thou scarest³¹ me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions: [15] So that my soul chooseth³² strangling, [and] death rather than my life³³. [16] I loathe [it³⁴]; I would not live alway: let me alone³⁵; for my days³⁶ [are] vanity. [17] What [is] man³⁷, that thou shouldest magnify³⁸ him? and that thou shouldest set thine³⁹ heart upon him? [18] And [that] thou shouldest visit⁴⁰ him every morning, [and] try⁴¹ him every moment? [19] How long⁴² wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? [20] I have sinned⁴³; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver⁴⁴ of men? why hast⁴⁵ thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am⁴⁶ a burden to myself? [21] And why dost⁴⁷ thou not pardon my transgression, and take away⁴⁸ mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep⁴⁹ in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning⁵⁰, but I [shall] not [be⁵¹].