Job Continues: Life Seems Futile 1 UEB Does not man have hard labor on earth? Are not his days like the days of a hired man? BSB BSB: “Is not man consigned to labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired hand?
2 UEB Like a slave earnestly desires the shadows of evening, like a hired man looks for his wages— BSB BSB: Like a slave he longs for shade; like a hireling he waits for his wages.
3 UEB so I have been made to endure months of misery; I have been given trouble-filled nights. BSB BSB: So I am allotted months of futility, and nights of misery are appointed to me.
4 UEB When I lie down, I say to myself, 'When will I get up and when will the night be gone?' I am full of tossing to and fro until the day's dawning. 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 UEB My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; the sores in my skin harden up and then dissolve and run afresh. BSB BSB: My flesh is clothed with worms and encrusted with dirt; my skin is cracked and festering.
6 UEB My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle; they pass without hope. BSB BSB: My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope.
7 UEB God, call to mind that my life is only a breath; my eye will no more see good. BSB BSB: Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see happiness.
8 UEB The eye of God, who sees me, will see me no more; God's eyes will be on me, but I will not exist. BSB BSB: The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. You will look for me, but I will be no more.
9 UEB As a cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol will 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 UEB He will return no more to his house; neither will his place know him again. BSB BSB: He never returns to his house; his place remembers him no more.
11 UEB 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. 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 UEB Am I the sea or a sea monster that you place a guard over me? BSB BSB: Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that You must keep me under guard?
13 UEB When I say, 'My bed will comfort me, and my couch will ease my complaint,' BSB BSB: When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,
14 UEB 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 UEB so that I would choose strangling and death rather than preserving these bones of mine. BSB BSB: so that I would prefer strangling and death over my life in this body.
16 UEB I loathe my life; I would not wish to always be alive; let me alone for my days are useless. BSB BSB: I loathe my life! I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
17 UEB What is man that you should pay attention to him, that you should set your mind on him, BSB BSB: What is man that You should exalt him, that You should set Your heart upon him,
18 UEB that you should observe him every morning and test him every moment? BSB BSB: that You attend to him every morning, and test him every moment?
19 UEB How long will it be before you look away from me, before you let me alone long enough for me to swallow down my own saliva? BSB BSB: Will You never look away from me, or leave me alone to swallow my spittle?
20 UEB Even if I have sinned, what would that do to you, you who watch men? Why have you made a target of me, so that I am a burden for you? 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 UEB Why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For now will I lie down in the dust; you will seek me carefully, but I will not exist." 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.