Job Continues: Life Seems Futile 1 AKJV Is there not an appointed time to man on earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling? BSB BSB: “Is not man consigned to labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired hand?
2 AKJV As a servant earnestly desires the shadow, and as an hireling looks for the reward of his work: BSB BSB: Like a slave he longs for shade; like a hireling he waits for his wages.
3 AKJV So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me. BSB BSB: So I am allotted months of futility, and nights of misery are appointed to me.
4 AKJV When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro to the dawning of the day. BSB BSB: When I lie down I think: ‘When will I get up?’ But the night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.
5 AKJV My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome. BSB BSB: My flesh is clothed with worms and encrusted with dirt; my skin is cracked and festering.
6 AKJV My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope. BSB BSB: My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope.
7 AKJV O remember that my life is wind: my eye shall no more see good. BSB BSB: Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see happiness.
8 AKJV The eye of him that has seen me shall see me no more: your eyes are on me, and I am not. BSB BSB: The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. You will look for me, but I will be no more.
9 AKJV As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away: so he that goes down to the grave shall come up no more. BSB BSB: As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up.
10 AKJV He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more. BSB BSB: He never returns to his house; his place remembers him no more.
11 AKJV Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. BSB BSB: 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 AKJV Am I a sea, or a whale, that you set a watch over me? BSB BSB: Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that You must keep me under guard?
13 AKJV When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaints; BSB BSB: When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,
14 AKJV Then you scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions: BSB BSB: then You frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions,
15 AKJV So that my soul chooses strangling, and death rather than my life. BSB BSB: so that I would prefer strangling and death over my life in this body.
16 AKJV I loathe it; I would not live always: let me alone; for my days are vanity. BSB BSB: I loathe my life! I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
17 AKJV What is man, that you should magnify him? and that you should set your heart on him? BSB BSB: What is man that You should exalt him, that You should set Your heart upon him,
18 AKJV And that you should visit him every morning, and try him every moment? BSB BSB: that You attend to him every morning, and test him every moment?
19 AKJV How long will you not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? BSB BSB: Will You never look away from me, or leave me alone to swallow my spittle?
20 AKJV I have sinned; what shall I do to you, O you preserver of men? why have you set me as a mark against you, so that I am a burden to myself? BSB BSB: If I have sinned, what have I done to You, O watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, so that I am a burden to You?
21 AKJV And why do you not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and you shall seek me in the morning, but I shall not be. BSB BSB: Why do You not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For soon I will lie down in the dust; You will seek me, but I will be no more.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.