Job Continues: Life Seems Futile 1 Brenton Is not the life of man upon earth a state of trial? and his existence as that of a hireling by the day? BSB BSB: “Is not man consigned to labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired hand?
2 Brenton Or as a servant that fears his master, and one who has grasped a shadow? or as a hireling waiting for his pay? BSB BSB: Like a slave he longs for shade; like a hireling he waits for his wages.
3 Brenton So have I also endured months of vanity, and nights of pain have been appointed me. BSB BSB: So I am allotted months of futility, and nights of misery are appointed to me.
4 Brenton Whenever I lie down, I say, When will it be day? and whenever I rise up, again I say when will it be evening? and I am full of pains from evening to morning. 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 Brenton And my body is covered with loathsome worms; and I waste away, scraping off clods of dust from my eruption. BSB BSB: My flesh is clothed with worms and encrusted with dirt; my skin is cracked and festering.
6 Brenton And my life is lighter than a word, and has perished in vain hope. BSB BSB: My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope.
7 Brenton Remember then that my life is breath, and mine eye shall not yet again see good. BSB BSB: Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see happiness.
8 Brenton The eye of him that sees me shall not see me again : thine eyes are upon me, and I am no more. BSB BSB: The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. You will look for me, but I will be no more.
9 Brenton I am as a cloud that is cleared away from the sky: for if a man go down to the grave, he shall not come up again:BSB BSB: As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up.
10 Brenton and he shall surely not return to his own house, neither shall his place know him any more. BSB BSB: He never returns to his house; his place remembers him no more.
11 Brenton Then neither will I refrain my mouth: I will speak being in distress; being in anguish I will disclose 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 Brenton Am I a sea, or a serpent, that thou hast 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 Brenton I said that my bed should comfort me, and I would privately counsel with myself on my couch. BSB BSB: When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,
14 Brenton Thou scarest me with dreams, and dost terrify me with visions. BSB BSB: then You frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions,
15 Brenton Thou wilt separate life from my spirit; and yet keep my bones from death. BSB BSB: so that I would prefer strangling and death over my life in this body.
16 Brenton For I shall not live for ever, that I should patiently endure: depart from me, for my life is vain. BSB BSB: I loathe my life! I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
17 Brenton For what is man, that thou hast magnified him? or that thou givest heed to him? BSB BSB: What is man that You should exalt him, that You should set Your heart upon him,
18 Brenton Wilt thou visit him till the morning, and judge him till the time of rest? BSB BSB: that You attend to him every morning, and test him every moment?
19 Brenton How long dost thou not let me alone, nor let me go, until I shall swallow down my spittle? BSB BSB: Will You never look away from me, or leave me alone to swallow my spittle?
20 Brenton If I have sinned, what shall I be able to do, O thou that understandest the mind of men? why hast thou made me as thine accuser, and why am I a burden to thee? 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 Brenton Why hast thou not forgotten my iniquity, and purged my sin? but now I shall depart to the earth; and in the morning, I am no more. 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.