| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1“Is not all human life a struggle? Our lives are like that of a hired hand, | 1“Is not man consigned to labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired hand? |
| 2like a worker who longs for the shade, like a servant waiting to be paid. | 2Like a slave he longs for shade; like a hireling he waits for his wages. |
| 3I, too, have been assigned months of futility, long and weary nights of misery. | 3So I am allotted months of futility, and nights of misery are appointed me. |
| 4Lying in bed, I think, ‘When will it be morning?’ But the night drags on, and I toss till dawn. | 4When I lie down I think: ‘When will I get up?’ But the night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn. |
| 5My body is covered with maggots and scabs. My skin breaks open, oozing with pus. Job Cries Out to God | 5My flesh is clothed with worms and encrusted with dirt; my skin is cracked and festering. |
| 6“My days fly faster than a weaver’s shuttle. They end without hope. | 6My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope. |
| 7O God, remember that my life is but a breath, and I will never again feel happiness. | 7Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see happiness. |
| 8You see me now, but not for long. You will look for me, but I will be gone. | 8The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. You will look for me, but I will be no more. |
| 9Just as a cloud dissipates and vanishes, those who die will not come back. | 9As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up. |
| 10They are gone forever from their home— never to be seen again. | 10He never returns to his house; his place remembers him no more. |
| 11“I cannot keep from speaking. I must express my anguish. My bitter soul must complain. | 11Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. |
| 12Am I a sea monster or a dragon that you must place me under guard? | 12Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that You must keep me under guard? |
| 13I think, ‘My bed will comfort me, and sleep will ease my misery,’ | 13When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint, |
| 14but then you shatter me with dreams and terrify me with visions. | 14then You frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions, |
| 15I would rather be strangled— rather die than suffer like this. | 15so that I would prefer strangling and death over my life in this body. |
| 16I hate my life and don’t want to go on living. Oh, leave me alone for my few remaining days. | 16I loathe my life! I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath. |
| 17“What are people, that you should make so much of us, that you should think of us so often? | 17What is man that You should exalt him, that You should set Your heart upon him, |
| 18For you examine us every morning and test us every moment. | 18that You attend to him every morning, and test him every moment? |
| 19Why won’t you leave me alone, at least long enough for me to swallow! | 19Will You never look away from me, or leave me alone to swallow my spittle? |
| 20If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of all humanity? Why make me your target? Am I a burden to you? | 20If 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? |
| 21Why not just forgive my sin and take away my guilt? For soon I will lie down in the dust and die. When you look for me, I will be gone.” | 21Why 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.” |
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