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The Book of Job, Chapter 7
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1 |
Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not
his days also like the days of an hireling?
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2 |
As a servant
earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the
reward of his work:
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3 |
So am I made to possess months of vanity, and
wearisome nights are appointed to me.
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4 |
When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone?
and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
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5 |
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is
broken, and become loathsome.
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6 |
My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without
hope.
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7 |
O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.
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8 |
The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes
are upon me, and I am not.
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9 |
As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down
to the grave shall come up no more.
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10 |
He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place
know him any more.
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11 |
Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the
anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
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12 |
Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?
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13 |
When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my
complaints;
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14 |
Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me
through visions:
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15 |
So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death
rather than my life.
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16 |
I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days
are vanity.
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17 |
What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou
shouldest set thine heart upon him?
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18 |
And that thou shouldest
visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
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19 |
How long wilt
thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my
spittle?
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20 |
I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou
preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so
that I am a burden to myself?
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21 |
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.
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