Job's Second Speech: A Response To Eliphaz
1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
1 "Men have harsh servitude on earth, do they not? His days are like those of a hired laborer, are they not?
1 “Is not man forced to labor on earth?And are not his days like the days of a hired man?
2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:
2 “As a slave who pants for the shade,And as a hired man who eagerly waits for his wages,
2 Like a slave he longs for shade;like a hired man he waits for his pay.
2 I'm like a servant who longs for the shade, like a hired laborer who is looking for his wages.
2 “As a slave earnestly longs for the shade,And as a hired man eagerly awaits his wages,
3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
3 So I have been made to inherit months of futility,and troubled nights have been assigned to me.(B)
3 Truly I've been allotted months of emptiness; nights of trouble have been appointed for me.
3 So am I allotted months of futility and suffering,And [long] nights of trouble and misery are appointed to me.
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.
4 “When I (D)lie down I say,‘When shall I arise?’But the night continues,And I am (b)continually tossing until dawn.
4 When I lie down I think:When will I get up?But the evening drags on endlessly,and I toss and turn until dawn.
4 "When I lie down I ask, "When will I wake up?' But the night continues and I keep tossing and turning until dawn.
4 “When I lie down I say,‘When shall I arise [and the night be gone]?’But the night continues,And I am continually tossing until the dawning of day.
5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.
5 My flesh is clothed with maggots and encrusted with dirt.(a)My skin forms scabs(b) and then oozes.(C)
5 My skin is covered with worms and clods of dirt; my skin becomes rough and then breaks out afresh.
5 “My body is clothed with worms and a crust of dust;My skin is hardened [and broken and loathsome], and [breaks out and] runs.
Don'T Forget!
8 The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.
8 “The (J)eye of him who sees me will behold me no longer;Your eyes will be on me, but (K)I will not be.
8 The eye of anyone who looks on mewill no longer see me.Your eyes will look for me, but I will be gone.(F)
8 The eyes of the one who sees me won't see me anymore; your eyes will look for me but I won't be around!
8 “The eye of him who sees me [now] will see me no more;Your eyes will be upon me, but I will not be.
9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.
9 As a cloud fades away and vanishes, the one who descends to the afterlife doesn't return.
9 “As a cloud vanishes and is gone,So he who goes down to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) does not come up.
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.
11 “Therefore (P)I will not restrain my mouth;I will speak in the anguish of my spirit,I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
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.
11 "In addition, I won't keep my opinion to myself; I'll speak from my distressed spirit; I'll complain with my bitter soul.
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 [O Lord].
Job Says To God: Leave Me Alone
13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;
13 When I say: My bed will comfort me,and my couch will ease my complaint,
13 For I've said, "My bed will comfort me; my couch will ease my burdens while I complain.'
13 “When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me,My couch will ease my complaint,’
16 I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
16 I hate the thought of living forever! Leave me alone, because my days are pointless."
16 “I waste away and loathe my life; I will not live forever.Let me alone, for my days are but a breath [futile and without substance].
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?
20 “(X)Have I sinned? What have I done to You,O (Y)watcher of men?Why have You set me as Your target,So that I am a burden to myself?
20 If I have sinned, what have I done to You,Watcher of mankind?Why have You made me Your target,(P)so that I have become a burden to You?(i)
20 So what if I sin? What have I done against you, you observer of humankind? Why have you made me your target? Why burden yourself with me?
20 “If I have sinned, what [harm] have I done to You,O Watcher of mankind?Why have You set me as a target for You,So that I am a burden to myself?
21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.
21 “Why then (Z)do You not pardon my transgressionAnd take away my iniquity?For now I will (AA)lie down in the dust;And You will seek me, (AB)but I will not be.”
21 Why not forgive my sinand pardon my transgression?(Q)For soon I will lie down in the grave.(R)You will eagerly seek me, but I will be gone.(S)
21 Why haven't you pardoned my transgression and taken away my iniquity? Now I'm about to lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I won't be around!"
21 “Why then do You not pardon my transgressionAnd take away my sin and guilt?For now I will lie down in the dust;And You will seek me [diligently], but I will not be.”