Job 7

Job · Chapter 7

Job 7:20

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

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
20I 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?If 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?If 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?

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
I have sinnedחָטָ֡אתִיcha-TA-tiH2398
to sin

חָטָא (cha.ta) 1) to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to miss 1a2) to sin, miss the goal or path of right and duty 1a3) to incur guilt, incur penalty by sin, forfeit 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to bear loss 1b2) to make a sin-offering 1b3) to purify from sin 1b4) to purify from uncleanness 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to miss the mark 1c2) to induce to sin, cause to sin 1c3) to bring into guilt or condemnation or punishment 1d) (Hithpael) 1d1) to miss oneself, lose oneself, wander from the way 1d2) to purify oneself from uncleanness

what?מָ֤הmahH4100
what

מָא (ma) 1) what, whatever 1a) what? 1b) whatever, what, whatsoever 1c) how?, why?, wherefore? (with prefixes)

do I doאֶפְעַ֨ל׀'ef-'ALH6466
to work

פָּעַל (pa.al) 1) to do, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do 1a2) to make

O watcher ofנֹצֵ֪רno-TZERH5341
to watch

נָצַר (na.tsar) 1) to guard, watch, watch over, keep 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to watch, guard, keep 1a2) to preserve, guard from dangers 1a3) to keep, observe, guard with fidelity 1a4) to guard, keep secret 1a5) to be kept close, be blockaded 1a6) watchman (participle)

the humankindהָאָ֫דָ֥םha-'A-DAMH0120G
man

אָדָם (a.dam) 1) man, mankind 1a) man, human being 1b) man, mankind (much more frequently intended sense in OT) 1c) Adam, first man 1d) city in Jordan valley

to why?לָ֤מָהLA-mahH4100
what

מָא (ma) 1) what, whatever 1a) what? 1b) whatever, what, whatsoever 1c) how?, why?, wherefore? (with prefixes)

have you set meשַׂמְתַּ֣נִיsam-TA-niH7760A
to set: make

שׂוּם (sum) : make/establish 1) to put, place, set, appoint, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on 1a2) to set, direct, direct toward 1a2a) to extend (compassion) (fig) 1a3) to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix 1a4) to set, station, put, set in place, plant, fix 1a5) to make, make for, transform into, constitute, fashion, work, bring to pass, appoint, give 1b) (Hiphil) to set or make for a sign 1c) (Hophal) to be set

to a targetלְמִפְגָּ֣עle-mif-GA'H4645
target

מִפְגָּע (miph.ga) thing hit, mark, target, object of assault

and I have becomeוָאֶהְיֶ֖הva-'eh-YEHH1961
to be

הָיָה (ha.yah) 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) …

on myselfעָלַ֣י'a-LAIH5921A
upon

עַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) …

into a burdenלְמַשָּֽׂא׃le-ma-SA'H4853A
burden

מַשָּׂא (mas.sa) 1) load, bearing, tribute, burden, lifting 1a) load, burden 1b) lifting, uplifting, that to which the soul lifts itself up 1c) bearing, carrying 1d) tribute, that which is carried or brought or borne

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.