Job Chapter 7
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
For vexation killeth the foolish man,
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And jealousy slayeth the silly one.
3
I have seen the foolish taking root:
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But suddenly I cursed his habitation.
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His children are far from safety,
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And they are crushed in the gate,
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Neither is there any to deliver them:
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Whose harvest the hungry eateth up,
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And taketh it even out of the thorns;
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And the snare gapeth for their substance.
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For affliction cometh not forth from the dust,
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Neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;
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But man is born unto trouble,
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As the sparks fly upward.
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But as for me, I would seek unto God,
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And unto God would I commit my cause;
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Who doeth great things and unsearchable,
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Marvellous things without number:
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Who giveth rain upon the earth,
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And sendeth waters upon the fields;
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So that he setteth up on high those that are low,
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
Hath not man a life of labour upon earth? and are not his days like the days of a hireling?
2
As a bondman earnestly desireth the shadow, and a hireling expecteth his wages,
3
So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
4
If I lie down, I say, When shall I rise up, and the darkness be gone? and I am full of tossings until the dawn.
5
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and suppurates.
6
My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7
Remember thou that my life is wind; mine eye shall no more see good.
8
The eye of him that hath seen me shall behold me no [more]: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.
9
The cloud consumeth and vanisheth away; so he that goeth down to Sheol shall not come up.
10
He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him again.
11
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
Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, that thou settest a watch over me?
13
When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;
14
Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions;
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So that my soul chooseth strangling, death, rather than my bones.
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I loathe it; I shall not live always: let me alone, for my days are a breath.
17
What is man, that thou makest much of him? and that thou settest thy heart upon him?
18
And that thou visitest him every morning, triest him every moment?
19
How long wilt thou not look away from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
20
Have I sinned, what do I unto thee, thou Observer of men? Why hast thou set me as an object of assault for thee, so that I am become a burden to myself?
21
And why dost not thou forgive my transgression and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I lie down in the dust, and thou shalt seek me early, and I shall not be.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
Is not the life of man upon earth a state of trial? and his existence as that of a hireling by the day?
2
Or as a servant that fears his master, and one who has grasped a shadow? or as a hireling waiting for his pay?
3
So have I also endured months of vanity, and nights of pain have been appointed me.
4
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.
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And my body is covered with loathsome worms; and I waste away, scraping off clods of dust from my eruption.
6
And my life is lighter than a word, and has perished in vain hope.
7
Remember then that my life is breath, and mine eye shall not yet again see good.
8
The eye of him that sees me shall not see me [again]: thine eyes are upon me, and I am no more.
9
[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:
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and he shall surely not return to his own house, neither shall his place know him any more.
11
Then neither will I refrain my mouth: I will speak being in distress; being in anguish I will disclose the bitterness of my soul.
12
Am I a sea, or a serpent, that thou hast set a watch over me?
13
I said that my bed should comfort me, and I would privately counsel with myself on my couch.
14
Thou scarest me with dreams, and dost terrify me with visions.
15
Thou wilt separate life from my spirit; and yet [keep] my bones from death.
16
For I shall not live for ever, that I should patiently endure: depart from me, for my life [is] vain.
17
For what is man, that thou hast magnified him? or that thou givest heed to him?
18
Wilt thou visit him till the morning, and judge him till [the time of] rest?
19
How long dost thou not let me alone, nor let me go, until I shall swallow down my spittle?
20
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?
21
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.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Militia est vita hominis super terram: et sicut dies mercenarii, dies eius.
2
Sicut servus desiderat umbram, et sicut mercenarius præstolatur finem operis sui:
3
Sic et ego habui menses vacuos, et noctes laboriosas enumeravi mihi.
4
Si dormiero, dicam: Quando consurgam? et rursum expectabo vesperam, et replebor doloribus usque ad tenebras.
5
Induta est caro mea putredine et sordibus pulveris, cutis mea aruit, et contracta est.
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Dies mei velocius transierunt quam a texente tela succiditur, et consumpti sunt absque ulla spe.
7
Memento quia ventus est vita mea, et non revertetur oculus meus ut videat bona.
8
Nec aspiciet me visus hominis: oculi tui in me, et non subsistam.
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Sicut consumitur nubes, et pertransit: sic qui descenderit ad inferos, non ascendet.
10
Nec revertetur ultra in domum suam, neque cognoscet eum amplius locus eius.
11
Quapropter et ego non parcam ori meo, loquar in tribulatione spiritus mei: confabulabor cum amaritudine animæ meæ.
12
Numquid mare ego sum, aut cetus, quia circumdedisti me carcere?
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Si dixero: Consolabitur me lectulus meus, et relevabor loquens mecum in strato meo:
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Terrebis me per somnia, et per visiones horrore concuties.
15
Quam ob rem elegit suspendium anima mea, et mortem ossa mea.
16
Desperavi, nequaquam ultra iam vivam: parce mihi, nihil enim sunt dies mei.
17
Quid est homo, quia magnificas eum? aut quid apponis erga eum cor tuum?
18
Visitas eum diluculo, et subito probas illum:
19
Usquequo non parcis mihi, nec dimittis me ut glutiam salivam meam?
20
Peccavi, quid faciam tibi o custos hominum? quare posuisti me contrarium tibi, et factus sum mihimetipsi gravis?
21
Cur non tollis peccatum meum, et quare non aufers iniquitatem meam? ecce, nunc in pulvere dormiam: et si mane me quæsieris, non subsistam.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
“Isn’t a man forced to labor on earth? Aren’t his days like the days of a hired hand?
2
As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling who looks for his wages,
3
so I am made to possess months of misery, wearisome nights are appointed to me.
4
When I lie down, I say, ‘When will I arise, and the night be gone?’ I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.
5
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.
6
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7
Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye will no more see good.
8
The eye of him who sees me will see me no more. Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.
9
As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol will come up no more.
10
He will return no more to his house, neither will his place know him any more.
11
“Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12
Am I a sea, or a sea monster, that you put a guard over me?
13
When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me. My couch will ease my complaint,’
14
then you scare me with dreams and terrify me through visions,
15
so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than my bones.
16
I loathe my life. I don’t want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
17
What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,
18
that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?
19
How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?
20
If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself?
21
Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now will I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I will not be.”
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
Is there not a warfare to man on earth? And as the days of an hireling his days?
2
As a servant desireth the shadow, And as a hireling expecteth his wage,
3
So I have been caused to inherit months of vanity, And nights of misery they numbered to me.
4
If I lay down then I said, `When do I rise!' And evening hath been measured, And I have been full of tossings till dawn.
5
Clothed hath been my flesh <FI>with<Fi> worms, And a clod of dust, My skin hath been shrivelled and is loathsome,
6
My days swifter than a weaving machine, And they are consumed without hope.
7
Remember Thou that my life <FI>is<Fi> a breath, Mine eye turneth not back to see good.
8
The eye of my beholder beholdeth me not. Thine eyes <FI>are<Fi> upon me--and I am not.
9
Consumed hath been a cloud, and it goeth, So he who is going down to Sheol cometh not up.
10
He turneth not again to his house, Nor doth his place discern him again.
11
Also I--I withhold not my mouth--I speak in the distress of my spirit, I talk in the bitterness of my soul.
12
A sea-<FI> monster<Fi> am I, or a dragon, That thou settest over me a guard?
13
When I said, `My bed doth comfort me,' He taketh away in my talking my couch.
14
And thou hast affrighted me with dreams, And from visions thou terrifiest me,
15
And my soul chooseth strangling, Death rather than my bones.
16
I have wasted away--not to the age do I live. Cease from me, for my days <FI>are<Fi> vanity.
17
What <FI>is<Fi> man that Thou dost magnify him? And that Thou settest unto him Thy heart?
18
And inspectest him in the mornings, In the evenings dost try him?
19
How long dost Thou not look from me? Thou dost not desist till I swallow my spittle.
20
I have sinned, what do I to Thee, O watcher of man? Why hast Thou set me for a mark to Thee, And I am for a burden to myself--and what?
21
Thou dost not take away my transgression, And cause to pass away mine iniquity, Because now, for dust I lie down: And Thou hast sought me--and I am not!
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).