Job 7 - Easy To Read Version

¹ Job said,

² Man is like a slave who wants the\par cool shade after hard work on a hot day.\par Man is like a hired worker\par waiting for payday.\par

³ Month after frustrating month\par has gone by.\par I have had night after night of suffering.\par

⁴ When I lie down, I think,\par ‘How long before it’s time to get up?’\par The night drags on.\par I toss and turn until the sun comes up.\par

⁵ My body is clothed with worms and dirt.\par My skin is broken\par and covered with running sores.\par

⁶ “My days go by faster\par than a weaver’s shuttle. {\cf2\super [13]} \par And my life ends without hope.\par

⁷ God, remember, my life is only a breath.\par I will never see anything good again.\par

⁸ And you won’t see me again.\par You will look for me,\par but I will be gone.\par

⁹ A cloud disappears and is gone.\par In the same way, a person dies\par and is buried in the grave\par and he won’t come back.\par

¹⁰ He will never come back\par to his old house again.\par His home won’t know him any more.\par

¹¹ “So I won’t be quiet!\par I will speak out!\par My spirit is suffering!\par I will complain because\par my soul is bitter.\par

¹² God, why do you guard me?\par Am I the sea or a sea monster?\par

¹³ My bed should bring me comfort.\par My couch should give me rest\par and relief.\par

¹⁴ But God, \{when I lie down\}\par you scare me with dreams,\par you frighten with visions. {\cf2\super [14]} \par

¹⁵ So I prefer to be choked to death\par than to live.\par

¹⁶ I hate my life—I give up.\par I don’t want to live forever.\par Leave me alone!\par My life means nothing!\par

¹⁷ God, why is man so important to you?\par Why should you honor him?\par Why do you even notice him?\par

¹⁸ Why do you visit man every morning\par and test him every moment?\par

¹⁹ God, you never look away from me.\par You won’t leave me alone for a second.\par

²⁰ God, you watch over people.\par If I have sinned, fine,\par what can I do?\par Why did you use me for target practice?\par Did I become a problem for you?\par

²¹ Why don’t you just pardon me\par for doing wrong?\par Why don’t you just forgive me\par for my sins?\par Soon I will die and be in my grave.\par Then you will search for me,\par but I will be gone.”\par