The Brevity of Man's Days

Job 7

Job compares man's life on earth to the hard service of a hired laborer, filled with sleepless nights and days that pass away in vain hope. He turns to address the Lord directly, asking why so much attention is fixed on so small a creature, and pleading to be let alone before he departs to the grave.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonIS not the life of man on the earth a state of trial, and his days like the days of a hireling?

BrentonIs not the life of man upon earth a state of trial? and his existence as that of a hireling by the day?

GreekΠότερον οὐχὶ πειρατήριόν ἐστιν ὁ βίος ἀνθρώπου ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς; καὶ ὥσπερ μισθίου αὐθημερινοῦ ἡ ζωὴ αὐτοῦ;

KJVIs there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?

JPSIs there not a time of service to man upon earth? And are not his days like the days of a hireling?

ThomsonIs he not like a servant, who in a shade is afraid of his lord? Or like a hireling waiting for his hire?

BrentonOr as a servant that fears his master, and one who has grasped a shadow? or as a hireling waiting for his pay?

GreekἪ ὥσπερ θεράπων δεδοικὼς τὸν Κύριον αὐτοῦ, καὶ τετευχὼς σκιᾶς; ἢ ὥσπερ μισθωτὸς ἀναμένων τὸν μισθὸν αὐτοῦ;

KJVAs a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:

JPSAs a servant that eagerly longeth for the shadow, And as a hireling that looketh for his wages;

ThomsonJust so have I waited months in vain, and wearisome nights have been doled out to me.

BrentonSo have I also endured months of vanity, and nights of pain have been appointed me.

GreekΟὕτως κᾀγὼ ὑπέμεινα μῆνας κενοὺς, νύκτες δὲ ὀδυνῶν δεδομέναι μοι εἰσίν.

KJVSo am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

JPSSo am I made to possess—months of vanity, And wearisome nights are appointed to me.

ThomsonWhen I lay me down to rest, I say, When will it be day? And soon as I rise; I again say, When will it be evening? I am full of pains from evening till morning;

BrentonWhenever I lie down, I say, When will it be day? and whenever I rise up, again I say when will it be evening? and I am full of pains from evening to morning.

GreekἘὰν κοιμηθῶ, λέγω, πότε ἡμέρα; ὡς δʼ ἂν ἀναστῶ, πάλιν, πότε ἑσπέρα; πλήρης δὲ γίνομαι ὀδυνῶν ἀπὸ ἑσπέρας ἕως πρωΐ.

KJVWhen 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.

JPSWhen I lie down, I say: ‘When shall I arise?’ But the night is long, and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

Thomsonand my body swarms with the putrefaction of worms: and I moisten the clods of earth with the ichor of ulcers.

BrentonAnd my body is covered with loathsome worms; and I waste away, scraping off clods of dust from my eruption.

GreekΦύρεται δέ μου τὸ σῶμα ἐν σαπρίᾳ σκωλήκων, τήκω δὲ βώλακας γῆς ἀπὸ ἰχῶρος ξύων.

KJVMy flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.

JPSMy flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; My skin closeth up and breaketh out afresh.

ThomsonThough my life is swifter than a word; yet it is destroyed with vain hope.

BrentonAnd my life is lighter than a word, and has perished in vain hope.

GreekὉ δὲ βίος μου ἔστιν ἐλαφρότερος λαλιᾶς, ἀπόλωλε δὲ ἐν κενῇ ἐλπίδι.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonRemember therefore that my life is but a breath; and that mine eyes shall never return again to see good.

BrentonRemember then that my life is breath, and mine eye shall not yet again see good.

GreekΜνήσθητι οὖν ὅτι πνεῦμά μου ἡ ζωὴ, καὶ οὐκ ἔτι ἐπανελεύσεται ὀφθαλμός μου ἰδεῖν ἀγαθόν.

KJVO remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

JPSO remember that my life is a breath; Mine eye shall no more see good.

ThomsonThe eye of him who seeth me now shall not see me again. Thine eyes are upon me and I am gone.

BrentonThe eye of him that sees me shall not see me again: thine eyes are upon me, and I am no more.

GreekΟὐ περιβλέψεταί με ὀφθαλμὸς ὁρῶντός με, οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου ἐν ἐμοί, καὶ οὐκ ἔτι εἰμί·

KJVThe eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.

JPSThe eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; While Thine eyes are upon me, I am gone.

ThomsonI am like a cloud swept clean away from the sky. For when a man goeth down to the mansion of the dead

BrentonI am as a cloud that is cleared away from the sky: for if a man go down to the grave, he shall not come up again:

GreekὭσπερ νέφος ἀποκαθαρθὲν ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ· ἐὰν γὰρ ἄνθρωπος καταβῇ εἰς ᾅδην, οὐκ ἔτι μὴ ἀναβῇ,

KJVAs the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

JPSAs the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, So he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

Thomsonhe can never reascend again—he can never return again to his own house; nor shall his place know him anymore.

Brentonand he shall surely not return to his own house, neither shall his place know him any more.

Greekοὐδʼ οὐ μὴ ἐπιστρέψῃ εἰς τὸν ἴδιον οἶκον, οὐδʼ οὐ μὴ ἐπιγνῶ αὐτὸν ἔτι ὁ τόπος αὐτοῦ.

KJVHe shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

JPSHe shall return no more to his house, Neither shall his place know him any more.

ThomsonFor this cause then I will not refrain my mouth: I will speak though I am in anguish: though distressed, I will unfold the bitterness of my soul.

BrentonThen neither will I refrain my mouth: I will speak being in distress; being in anguish I will disclose the bitterness of my soul.

GreekἈτὰρ οὖν οὐδὲ ἐγὼ φείσομαι τῷ στόματί μου, λαλήσω ἐν ἀνάγκῃ ὤν, ἀνοίξω πικρίαν ψυχῆς μου συνεχόμενος.

KJVTherefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

JPSTherefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

ThomsonAm I a sea or a dragon, that Thou hast set a guard over me?

BrentonAm I a sea, or a serpent, that thou hast set a watch over me?

GreekΠότερον θάλασσα εἰμὶ ἢ δράκων, ὅτι κατέταξας ἐπʼ ἐμὲ φυλακήν;

KJVAm I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

JPSAm I a sea, or a sea-monster, That Thou settest a watch over me?

ThomsonDid I say my bed will comfort me—I will converse with myself privately on my bed?

BrentonI said that my bed should comfort me, and I would privately counsel with myself on my couch.

GreekΕἴπα ὅτι παρακαλέσει με ἡ κλίνη μου, ἀνοίσω δὲ πρὸς ἐμαυτὸν ἰδίᾳ λόγον τῇ κοίτῃ μου.

KJVWhen I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;

JPSWhen I say: ‘My bed shall comfort me, My couch shall ease my complaint’;

ThomsonThou terrifiest me with dreams and affrightest me with visions.

BrentonThou scarest me with dreams, and dost terrify me with visions.

GreekἘκφοβεῖς με ἐνυπνίοις, καὶ ὁράμασί με καταπλήσσεις.

KJVThen thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:

JPSThen Thou scarest me with dreams, And terrifiest me through visions;

ThomsonWilt Thou drive away my life from my spirit; and yet keep my bones from death?

BrentonThou wilt separate life from my spirit; and yet keep my bones from death.

GreekἈπαλλάξεις ἀπὸ πνεύματός μου τὴν ψυχήν μου, ἀπὸ δὲ θανάτου τὰ ὀστᾶ μου.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonFor I am not to live forever, that I should bear patiently. Withdraw from me; for my life is vanity.

BrentonFor I shall not live for ever, that I should patiently endure: depart from me, for my life is vain.

GreekΟὐ γὰρ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ζήσομαι, ἵνα μακροθυμήσω· ἀπόστα ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ, κενὸς γάρ μου ὁ βίος.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonFor what is man, that Thou hast magnified him; or that Thou payest attention to him?

BrentonFor what is man, that thou hast magnified him? or that thou givest heed to him?

GreekΤί γάρ ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος, ὅτι ἐμεγάλυνας αὐτόν; ἢ ὅτι προσέχεις τὸν νοῦν εἰς αὐτόν;

KJVWhat is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?

JPSWhat is man, that Thou shouldest magnify him, And that Thou shouldest set Thy heart upon him,

ThomsonWilt Thou keep a watch upon him till the morning. And judge him to the time of going to rest?

BrentonWilt thou visit him till the morning, and judge him till the time of rest?

GreekἪ ἐπισκοπὴν αὐτοῦ ποιήσῃ ἕως τὸ πρωΐ; καὶ εἰς ἀνάπαυσιν αὐτὸν κρινεῖς;

KJVAnd that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?

JPS—

ThomsonHow long wilt Thou not let me alone: nor let me go, that I may swallow my spittle?

BrentonHow long dost thou not let me alone, nor let me go, until I shall swallow down my spittle?

GreekἝως τίνος οὐκ ἐᾷς με, οὐδὲ προΐῃ με, ἕως ἂν καταπίω τὸν πτύελόν μου;

KJVHow long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

JPSHow long wilt Thou not look away from me, Nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

ThomsonIf I have sinned what can I do? O Thou who knowest the hearts of men; why hast Thou set me up as Thy mark to shoot at? Am I indeed a burden to Thee?

BrentonIf I have sinned, what shall I be able to do, O thou that understandest the mind of men? why hast thou made me as thine accuser, and why am I a burden to thee?

GreekΕἰ ἐγὼ ἥμαρτον, τί δυνήσομαι πρᾶξαι, ὁ ἐπιστάμενος τὸν νοῦν τῶν ἀνθρώπων; διατί ἔθου με κατεντευκτήν σου, εἰμὶ δὲ ἐπὶ σοὶ φορτίον;

KJVI 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?

JPSIf I have sinned, what do I unto Thee, O Thou watcher of men? Why hast Thou set me as a mark for Thee, So that I am a burden to myself?

ThomsonWhy hast Thou not made an oblivion of my transgression; or a purification for my sin? Now therefore let me depart into the earth: and when Thou risest in the morning, I am no more.

BrentonWhy hast thou not forgotten my iniquity, and purged my sin? but now I shall depart to the earth; and in the morning, I am no more.

GreekΔιατί οὐκ ἐποιήσω τῆς ἀνομίας μου λήθην, καὶ καθαρισμὸν τῆς ἁμαρτίας μου; νυνὶ δὲ εἰς γῆν ἀπελεύσομαι, ὀρθρίζων δὲ οὐκ ἔτι εἰμί.

KJVAnd 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.

JPS—