Job Continues: Life Seems Futile 1 WBS Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of a hireling?BSB BSB: “Is not man consigned to labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired hand?
2 WBS As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as a hireling looketh for the reward of his work; BSB BSB: Like a slave he longs for shade; like a hireling he waits for his wages.
3 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken and become lothsome. BSB BSB: My flesh is clothed with worms and encrusted with dirt; my skin is cracked and festering.
6 WBS 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 WBS O remember that my life is wind: 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 WBS The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more : thy eyes are upon 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 WBS As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?BSB BSB: Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that You must keep me under guard?
13 WBS When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint; BSB BSB: When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,
14 WBS Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions: BSB BSB: then You frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions,
15 WBS So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life. BSB BSB: so that I would prefer strangling and death over my life in this body.
16 WBS I lothe 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 WBS What is man, that thou shouldst magnify him? and that thou shouldst set thy heart upon him? BSB BSB: What is man that You should exalt him, that You should set Your heart upon him,
18 WBS And that thou shouldst visit him every morning, and try him every moment? BSB BSB: that You attend to him every morning, and test him every moment?
19 WBS How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow my spittle? BSB BSB: Will You never look away from me, or leave me alone to swallow my spittle?
20 WBS I have sinned; what shall I do to thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, 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 WBS And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt 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.