Chapter 7
Job declares the miseries of man’s life : and addresses himself to God.
1 The life of a man on the earth is a battle, and his days are like the days of a hired hand.
צָבָ֣אצב֣אצָבָאצבאtza.Va'[does] serviceH6635IHNcmsa לֶ/אֱנ֣וֹשׁל/אנ֣ושלֶ/אֱנוֹשׁל/אנושle./'e.No.osh[belong] to/ humankindH9005H0582HR+Ncmsa אָ֑רֶץא֑רץאָרֶץארץ'A.retzearthH0776GHNcfsa וְ/כִ/ימֵ֖יו/כ/ימ֖יוְ/כִ/ימֵיו/כ/ימיve./khi./Meiand/ like/ [the] days ofH9002H9004H3117GHC+R+Ncmpc שָׂכִ֣ירשכ֣ירשָׂכִירשכירsa.Khira hired laborerH7916HAamsa 2 Just as a servant desires the shade, and just as the hired hand looks forward to the end of his work,
כְּ/עֶ֥בֶדכ/ע֥בדכְּ/עֶבֶדכ/עבדke./'E.vedlike/ a slaveH9004H5650HR+Ncmsa יִשְׁאַף\־ישאף\יִשְׁאַף\־ישאף\yish.'af-[who] he pants forH7602A\H9014HVqi3ms צֵ֑לצ֑לצֵלצלTzelshadeH6738HNcmsa וּ֝/כְ/שָׂכִ֗ירו֝/כ/שכ֗ירוּ/כְ/שָׂכִירו/כ/שכירu./khe./sa.Khirand/ like/ a hired laborerH9002H9004H7916HC+R+Aamsa יְקַוֶּ֥היקו֥היְקַוֶּהיקוהye.ka.Veh[who] he longs forH6960AHVpi3ms פָעֳלֽ/וֹ\׃פעל/ו\פָעֳלֽ/וֹ\׃פעל/ו\fo.'o.L/owage[s]/ hisH6467H9023\H9016HNcmsc+Sp3ms 3 so also have I had empty months and have counted my burdensome nights.
הָנְחַ֣לְתִּיהנח֣לתיהָנְחַלְתִּיהנחלתיha.ne.Chal.tiI have been allottedH5157HVHp1cs יַרְחֵי\־ירחי\יַרְחֵי\־ירחי\yar.chei-months ofH3391\H9014HNcmpc שָׁ֑וְאש֑ואשָׁוְאשואShav'worthlessnessH7723HHNcmsa וְ/לֵיל֥וֹתו/ליל֥ותוְ/לֵילוֹתו/לילותve./lei.Lotand/ nights ofH9002H3915HC+Ncfpc עָ֝מָ֗לע֝מ֗לעָמָלעמל'a.MaltroubleH5999HNcbsa מִנּוּ\־מנו\מִנּוּ\־מנו\mi.nu-people have allottedH4487\H9014HVpp3cp 4 If I lie down to sleep, I will say, “When will I rise?” And next I will hope for the evening and will be filled with sorrows even until darkness.
שָׁכַ֗בְתִּישכ֗בתישָׁכַבְתִּישכבתיsha.Khav.tiI lay downH7901GHVqp1cs וְ/אָמַ֗רְתִּיו/אמ֗רתיוְ/אָמַרְתִּיו/אמרתיve./'a.Mar.tiand/ I will sayH9001H0559Hc+Vqq1cs מָתַ֣ימת֣ימָתַימתיma.Taiwhen?H4970HTi אָ֭קוּםא֭קוםאָקוּםאקום'A.kumwill I ariseH6965BHVqi1cs וּ/מִדַּד\־ו/מדד\וּ/מִדַּד\־ו/מדד\u./mi.dad-and/ it will continueH9001H4058\H9014Hc+Vpq3ms עָ֑רֶבע֑רבעָרֶבערב'A.reveveningH6153HNcmsa וְ/שָׂבַ֖עְתִּיו/שב֖עתיוְ/שָׂבַעְתִּיו/שבעתיve./sa.Va'.tiand/ I will be surfeitedH9001H7646Hc+Vqq1cs נְדֻדִ֣יםנדד֣יםנְדֻדִיםנדדיםne.du.Dimrestlessness<es>H5076HNcmpa נָֽשֶׁף\׃נשף\נָֽשֶׁף\׃נשף\Na.sheftwilightH5399\H9016HNcmsa 5 My flesh is clothed with particles of rottenness and filth; my skin is dried up and tightened.
לָ֘בַ֤שׁל֘ב֤שלָבַשׁלבשla.Vashit is clothedH3847HVqp3ms בְּשָׂרִ֣/יבשר֣/יבְּשָׂרִ/יבשר/יbe.sa.R/iflesh/ myH1320H9020HNcmsc+Sp1bs רִ֭מָּהר֭מהרִמָּהרמהRi.mahmaggot[s]H7415HNcfsa וְ/ג֣וּשׁו/ג֣ושוְ/גוּשׁו/גושve./gishand/ clod[s] ofH9002H1487HC+Ncmsc עָפָ֑רעפ֑רעָפָרעפר'a.FardustH6083HNcmsa עוֹרִ֥/יעור֥/יעוֹרִ/יעור/יo.R/iskin/ myH5785H9020HNcmsc+Sp1bs רָ֝גַ֗ער֝ג֗ערָגַערגעra.Ga'it has hardenedH7280CHVqp3ms וַ/יִּמָּאֵֽס\׃ו/ימאס\וַ/יִּמָּאֵֽס\׃ו/ימאס\va/i.yi.ma.'Esand/ it has runH9001H3988B\H9016Hc+VNw3ms 6 My days have passed by more quickly than threads are cut by a weaver, and they have been consumed without any hope.
יָמַ֣/יימ֣/ייָמַ/יימ/יya.Ma/idays/ myH3117GH9020HNcmpc+Sp1bs קַ֭לּוּק֭לוקַלּוּקלוKa.luthey have been swiftH7043HVqp3cp אָ֑רֶגא֑רגאָרֶגארג'A.rega weaver's shuttleH0708HNcmsa וַ֝/יִּכְל֗וּו֝/יכל֗ווַ/יִּכְלוּו/יכלוva/i.yikh.Luand/ they have come to an endH9001H3615GHc+Vqw3mp בְּ/אֶ֣פֶסב/א֣פסבְּ/אֶפֶסב/אפסbe./'E.feswith/ notH9003H0657AHR+Ncmsc תִּקְוָֽה\׃תקוה\תִּקְוָֽה\׃תקוה\tik.VahhopeH8615B\H9016HNcfsa 7 Remember that my life is wind, and my eye will not return to see good things.
זְ֭כֹרז֭כרזְכֹרזכרZe.khorrememberH2142HVqv2ms ר֣וּחַר֣וחרוּחַרוחRu.ach[is] a breathH7307HHNcfsa חַיָּ֑/יחי֑/יחַיָּ/יחי/יchai.Ya/ilife/ myH2416EH9020HNcmpc+Sp1bs תָשׁ֥וּבתש֥ובתָשׁוּבתשובta.Shuvit will returnH7725JHVqi3fs עֵ֝ינִ֗/יע֝ינ֗/יעֵינִ/יעינ/י'ei.N/ieye/ myH5869AH9020HNcfsc+Sp1bs לִ/רְא֥וֹתל/רא֥ותלִ/רְאוֹתל/ראותli/r.'otto/ seeH9005H7200GHR+Vqcc 8 Neither will the sight of man gaze upon me; your eyes are upon me, and I will not endure.
תְ֭שׁוּרֵ/נִית֭שור/ניתְשׁוּרֵ/נִיתשור/ניTe.shu.re./niit will observe/ meH7789H9030HVqi3fs+Sp1bs עֵ֣יןע֣יןעֵיןעין'einan eye ofH5869AHNcfsc רֹ֑אִיר֑אירֹאִיראיRo.'isightH7210HVqrmsc עֵינֶ֖י/ךָעינ֖י/ךעֵינֶי/ךָעיני/ך'ei.Nei./khaeyes/ yourH5869AH9021HNcfdc+Sp2ms בִּ֣/יב֣/יבִּ/יב/יb/i[will be] on/ meH9003H9030HR+Sp1bs וְ/אֵינֶֽ/נִּי\׃ו/אינ/ני\וְ/אֵינֶֽ/נִּי\׃ו/אינ/ני\ve./'ei.Ne./niand/ there not [will be]/ meH9002H0369H9040\H9016HC+Ncmsc+Sp1bs 9 Just as a cloud is consumed and passes away, so he who descends to hell will not ascend.1
כָּלָ֣הכל֣הכָּלָהכלהka.Lahit vanishesH3615JHVqp3ms עָ֭נָןע֭נןעָנָןענן'A.nona cloudH6051HNcmsa וַ/יֵּלַ֑ךְו/יל֑ךוַ/יֵּלַךְו/ילךva/i.ye.Lakhand/ it has goneH9001H1980GHc+Vqw3ms יוֹרֵ֥דיור֥דיוֹרֵדיורדyo.Red[one who] has gone downH3381HVqrmsa שְׁ֝א֗וֹלש֝א֗ולשְׁאוֹלשאולShe.olSheolH7585HNcbsa לֹ֣אל֣אלֹאלאlo'notH3808HTn יַעֲלֶֽה\׃יעלה\יַעֲלֶֽה\׃יעלה\ya.'a.Lehhe will come upH5927G\H9016HVqi3ms - 7:9The word ‘infernos’ can mean hell or, more generally, ‘the underworld.’(Conte)
10 He will not return again to his house, nor will his own place know him any longer.
יָשׁ֣וּביש֣וביָשׁוּבישובya.Shuvhe will returnH7725GHVqi3ms ע֣וֹדע֣ודעוֹדעודodagainH5750HAcmsa לְ/בֵית֑/וֹל/בית֑/ולְ/בֵית/וֹל/בית/וle./vei.T/oto/ house/ hisH9005H1004BH9023HR+Ncmsc+Sp3ms יַכִּירֶ֖/נּוּיכיר֖/נויַכִּירֶ/נּוּיכיר/נוya.ki.Re./nuit will acknowledge/ himH5234AH9033HVhi3ms+Sp3ms ע֣וֹדע֣ודעוֹדעודodagainH5750HAcmsa מְקֹמֽ/וֹ\׃מקמ/ו\מְקֹמֽ/וֹ\׃מקמ/ו\me.ko.M/oplace/ hisH4725H9023\H9016HNcmsc+Sp3ms 11 And because of this, I will not restrain my mouth. I will speak in the affliction of my spirit. I will converse from the bitterness of my soul.
אֲנִי֮אני֮אֲנִיאני'a.NiIH0589HPp1bs לֹ֤אל֤אלֹאלאlo'notH3808HTn אֶחֱשָׂ֫ךְאחש֫ךאֶחֱשָׂךְאחשך'e.che.SakhI will restrainH2820HVqi1cs אֲֽ֭דַבְּרָהא֭דברהאֲֽדַבְּרָהאדברה'aDa.be.rahI will speakH1696GHVpc1cs בְּ/צַ֣רב/צ֣רבְּ/צַרב/צרbe./Tzarin/ [the] distress ofH9003H6862BHR+Aamsc רוּחִ֑/ירוח֑/ירוּחִ/ירוח/יru.Ch/ispirit/ myH7307GH9020HNcbsc+Sp1fs אָ֝שִׂ֗יחָהא֝ש֗יחהאָשִׂיחָהאשיחה'a.Si.chahI will complainH7878HVqc1cs בְּ/מַ֣רב/מ֣רבְּ/מַרב/מרbe./Marin/ [the] bitterness ofH9003H4751HR+Aamsc 12 Am I an ocean or a whale, that you have encircled me in a prison?
אָ֭נִיא֭ניאָנִיאני'A.ni[am] IH0589HPp1bs תַּנִּ֑יןתנ֑יןתַּנִּיןתניןta.Nin[the] sea monsterH8577NHNcmsa תָשִׂ֖יםתש֖יםתָשִׂיםתשיםta.Simyou will setH7760AHVqi2ms עָלַ֣/יעל֣/יעָלַ/יעל/י'a.La/iover/ meH5921AH9030HR+Sp1bs מִשְׁמָֽר\׃משמר\מִשְׁמָֽר\׃משמר\mish.Mara guardH4929\H9016HNcmsa 13 If I say, “My bed will comfort me, and I will find rest, speaking with myself on my blanket,”
אָ֭מַרְתִּיא֭מרתיאָמַרְתִּיאמרתי'A.mar.tiI saidH0559HVqp1cs תְּנַחֲמֵ֣/נִיתנחמ֣/ניתְּנַחֲמֵ/נִיתנחמ/ניte.na.cha.Me./niit will comfort/ meH5162GH9030HVpi3fs+Sp1bs עַרְשִׂ֑/יערש֑/יעַרְשִׂ/יערש/י'ar.S/icouch/ myH6210H9020HNcfsc+Sp1bs יִשָּׂ֥איש֥איִשָּׂאישאyi.Sa'it will carryH5375IHVqi3ms בְ֝/שִׂיחִ֗/יב֝/שיח֗/יבְ/שִׂיחִ/יב/שיח/יve./si.Ch/iin/ complaint/ myH9003H7879H9020HR+Ncmsc+Sp1bs מִשְׁכָּבִֽ/י\׃משכב/י\מִשְׁכָּבִֽ/י\׃משכב/י\mish.ka.V/ibed/ myH4904H9020\H9016HNcmsc+Sp1bs 14 then you will frighten me with dreams, and strike dread through visions,
וְ/חִתַּתַּ֥/נִיו/חתת֥/ניוְ/חִתַּתַּ/נִיו/חתת/ניve./chit.ta.Ta./niand/ you will dismay/ meH9001H2865H9030Hc+Vpq2ms+Sp1bs בַ/חֲלֹמ֑וֹתב/חלמ֑ותבַ/חֲלֹמוֹתב/חלמותva./cha.lo.Motby/ dreamsH9003H2472HR+Ncfpa וּֽ/מֵ/חֶזְיֹנ֥וֹתו/מ/חזינ֥ותוּֽ/מֵ/חֶזְיֹנוֹתו/מ/חזינותu./me./chez.yo.Notand/ from/ visionsH9002H9006H2384HC+R+Ncfpa תְּבַעֲתַֽ/נִּי\׃תבעת/ני\תְּבַעֲתַֽ/נִּי\׃תבעת/ני\te.va.'a.Ta./niyou will terrify/ meH1204H9030\H9016HVpi2ms+Sp1bs 15 so that, because of these things, my soul would choose hanging, and my bones, death.
וַ/תִּבְחַ֣רו/תבח֣רוַ/תִּבְחַרו/תבחרva./tiv.Charand/ it choseH9001H0977Hc+Vqw3fs מַחֲנָ֣קמחנ֣קמַחֲנָקמחנקma.cha.NakstranglingH4267HNcmsa נַפְשִׁ֑/ינפש֑/ינַפְשִׁ/ינפש/יnaf.Sh/iself/ myH5315IH9020HNcfsc+Sp1bs מָ֝֗וֶתמ֝֗ותמָוֶתמותMa.vetdeathH4194HNcmsa מֵֽ/עַצְמוֹתָֽ/י\׃מ/עצמות/י\מֵֽ/עַצְמוֹתָֽ/י\׃מ/עצמות/י\Me./'atz.mo.Ta/imore than/ bones/ myH9006H6106GH9020\H9016HR+Ncfpc+Sp1bs 16 I despair; by no means will I live any longer. Spare me, for my days are nothing.
מָ֭אַסְתִּימ֭אסתימָאַסְתִּימאסתיMa.'as.tiI rejectH3988AHVqp1cs לְ/עֹלָ֣םל/על֣םלְ/עֹלָםל/עלםle./'o.Lamfor/ everH9005H5769GHR+Ncmsa אֶֽחְיֶ֑האחי֑האֶֽחְיֶהאחיה'ech.YehI will liveH2421HVqi1cs חֲדַ֥לחד֥לחֲדַלחדלcha.DalceaseH2308HVqv2ms מִ֝מֶּ֗/נִּימ֝מ֗/נימִמֶּ/נִּיממ/ניmi.Me./nifrom/ meH4480AH9030HR+Sp1bs הֶ֥בֶלה֥בלהֶבֶלהבלHe.vel[are] a breathH1892HNcmsa 17 What is man, that you should praise him? Or why do you place your heart near him?
אֱ֭נוֹשׁא֭נושאֱנוֹשׁאנוש'E.no.osh[is] humankindH0582HNcmsa תְגַדְּלֶ֑/נּוּתגדל֑/נותְגַדְּלֶ/נּוּתגדל/נוte.gad.de.Le./nuyou will make great/ himH1431H9033HVpi2ms+Sp3ms תָשִׁ֖יתתש֖יתתָשִׁיתתשיתta.Shityou will setH7896GHVqi2ms אֵלָ֣י/ואל֣י/ואֵלָי/ואלי/ו'e.La/vto/ himH0413H9033HR+Sp3ms 18 You visit him at dawn, and you test him unexpectedly.
וַ/תִּפְקְדֶ֥/נּוּו/תפקד֥/נווַ/תִּפְקְדֶ/נּוּו/תפקד/נוva./tif.ke.De./nuand/ you have visited/ himH9001H6485IH9033Hc+Vqw2ms+Sp3ms לִ/בְקָרִ֑יםל/בקר֑יםלִ/בְקָרִיםל/בקריםli/v.ka.Rimto/ morningsH9005H1242HR+Ncmpa לִ֝/רְגָעִ֗יםל֝/רגע֗יםלִ/רְגָעִיםל/רגעיםli/r.ga.'Imto/ momentsH9005H7281HR+Ncmpa תִּבְחָנֶֽ/נּוּ\׃תבחנ/נו\תִּבְחָנֶֽ/נּוּ\׃תבחנ/נו\tiv.cha.Ne./nuyou test/ himH0974H9033\H9016HVqi2ms+Sp3ms 19 How long will you not spare me, nor release me to ingest my saliva?
כַּ֭/מָּהכ֭/מהכַּ/מָּהכ/מהKa./mahhow/ long?H9004H4100HR+Pi תִשְׁעֶ֣התשע֣התִשְׁעֶהתשעהtish.'Ehwill you look awayH8159HVqi2ms מִמֶּ֑/נִּיממ֑/נימִמֶּ/נִּיממ/ניmi.Me./nifrom/ meH4480AH9030HR+Sp1bs תַ֝רְפֵּ֗/נִית֝רפ֗/ניתַרְפֵּ/נִיתרפ/ניtar.Pe./niwill you let alone?/ meH7503H9030HVhi2ms+Sp1bs בִּלְעִ֥/יבלע֥/יבִּלְעִ/יבלע/יbil.'/Iswallow/ IH1104H9040HVqcc+Sp1bs 20 I have sinned; what should I do for you, O keeper of men? Why have you set me against you, so that I have become burdensome even to myself?
חָטָ֡אתִיחט֡אתיחָטָאתִיחטאתיcha.Ta.tiI have sinnedH2398HVqp1cs מָ֤המ֤המָהמהmahwhat?H4100HPi אֶפְעַ֨ל\׀אפע֨ל\אֶפְעַל\׀אפעל\'ef.'Aldo I doH6466\H9015HVqi1cs נֹצֵ֪רנצ֪רנֹצֵרנצרno.TzerO watcher ofH5341HVqrmsc הָ/אָ֫דָ֥םה/א֫ד֥םהָ/אָדָםה/אדםha./'A.Dam<the>/ humankindH9009H0120GHTd+Ncmsa לָ֤/מָהל֤/מהלָ/מָהל/מהLa./mah<to>/ why?H9005H4100HR+Pi שַׂמְתַּ֣/נִישמת֣/נישַׂמְתַּ/נִישמת/ניsam.Ta./nihave you set/ meH7760AH9030HVqp2ms+Sp1bs לְ/מִפְגָּ֣על/מפג֣עלְ/מִפְגָּעל/מפגעle./mif.Ga'to/ a targetH9005H4645HR+Ncmsa וָ/אֶהְיֶ֖הו/אהי֖הוָ/אֶהְיֶהו/אהיהva./'eh.Yehand/ I have becomeH9001H1961Hc+Vqw1cs עָלַ֣/יעל֣/יעָלַ/יעל/י'a.La/ion/ myselfH5921AH9030HR+Sp1bs לְ/מַשָּֽׂא\׃ל/משא\לְ/מַשָּֽׂא\׃ל/משא\le./ma.Sa'<into>/ a burdenH9005H4853A\H9016HR+Ncmsa 21 Why do you not steal away my sin, and why do you not sweep away my iniquity? Behold, now I will sleep in the dust, and if you seek me in the morning, I will not remain.1
תִשָּׂ֣אתש֣אתִשָּׂאתשאti.Sa'will you forgiveH5375IHVqi2ms פִשְׁעִ/י֮פשע/י֮פִשְׁעִ/יפשע/יfish.'/Itransgression/ myH6588H9020HNcmsc+Sp1bs וְ/תַעֲבִ֪ירו/תעב֪ירוְ/תַעֲבִירו/תעבירve./ta.'a.Virso/ may you take away?H9002H5674CHC+Vhu2ms עֲוֹ֫נִ֥/יעו֫נ֥/יעֲוֹנִ/יעונ/י'a.Vo.N/iiniquity/ myH5771GH9020HNcmsc+Sp1bs עַ֭תָּהע֭תהעַתָּהעתה'A.tahnowH6258HD לֶ/עָפָ֣רל/עפ֣רלֶ/עָפָרל/עפרle./'a.Farto the/ dustH9005H6083HRd+Ncmsa אֶשְׁכָּ֑באשכ֑באֶשְׁכָּבאשכב'esh.KavI will lie downH7901JHVqi1cs וְ/שִׁ֖חֲרְתַּ֣/נִיו/ש֖חרת֣/ניוְ/שִׁחֲרְתַּ/נִיו/שחרת/ניve./Shi.char.Ta./niand/ you will look for/ meH9001H7836H9030Hc+Vpq2ms+Sp1bs וְ/אֵינֶֽ/נִּי\׃\ \פו/אינ/ני\\ \פוְ/אֵינֶֽ/נִּי\׃\ \פו/אינ/ני\\ \פve./'ei.Ne./niand/ there not [will be]/ meH9002H0369H9040\H9016\ \H9017HC+Ncmsc+Sp1bs - 7:21Or, ‘why do you not steal away my sin...’ The word ‘tollis’ can also mean to steal. Again, aufers can mean to steal. Job is suggesting that God take away his sin, even if it is not fitting, even if it were analogous to stealing.(Conte)