Study Desk

"Do not mortals have hard service^(a) on earth?^(b) Are not their days like those of hired laborers?^(c)

Like a slave longing for the evening shadows,^(d) or a hired laborer waiting to be paid,^(e)

so I have been allotted months of futility, and nights of misery have been assigned to me.^(f)

When I lie down I think, ‘How long before I get up?'^(g) The night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.^(h)

My body is clothed with worms⁽ⁱ⁾ and scabs, my skin is broken and festering.^(j)

"My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle,^(k) and they come to an end without hope.^(l)

Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath;^(m) my eyes will never see happiness again.⁽ⁿ⁾

The eye that now sees me will see me no longer; you will look for me, but I will be no more.^(o)

As a cloud vanishes^(p) and is gone, so one who goes down to the grave^(q) does not return.^(r)

He will never come to his house again; his place^(s) will know him no more.^(t)

"Therefore I will not keep silent;^(u) I will speak out in the anguish^(v) of my spirit, I will complain^(w) in the bitterness of my soul.^(x)

Am I the sea,^(y) or the monster of the deep,^(z) that you put me under guard?^(aa)

When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,^(ab)

even then you frighten me with dreams and terrify^(ac) me with visions,^(ad)

so that I prefer strangling and death,^(ae) rather than this body of mine.^(af)

I despise my life;^(ag) I would not live forever.^(ah) Let me alone;^(ai) my days have no meaning.^(aj)

"What is mankind that you make so much of them, that you give them so much attention,^(ak)

that you examine them every morning^(al) and test them^(am) every moment?^(an)

Will you never look away from me,^(ao) or let me alone even for an instant?^(ap)

If I have sinned, what have I done to you,^(aq) you who see everything we do? Why have you made me your target?^(ar) Have I become a burden to you?^[a](as)

Why do you not pardon my offenses and forgive my sins?^(at) For I will soon lie down in the dust;^(au) you will search for me, but I will be no more."^(av)

Bildad

Then Bildad the Shuhite^(a) replied:

"How long will you say such things?^(b) Your words are a blustering wind.^(c)

Does God pervert justice?^(d) Does the Almighty pervert what is right?^(e)

When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.^(f)

But if you will seek God earnestly and plead^(g) with the Almighty,^(h)

if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf⁽ⁱ⁾ and restore you to your prosperous state.^(j)

Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous^(k) will your future be.^(l)

"Ask the former generation^(m) and find out what their ancestors learned,

for we were born only yesterday and know nothing,⁽ⁿ⁾ and our days on earth are but a shadow.^(o)

Will they not instruct^(p) you and tell you? Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?^(q)

Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh?^(r) Can reeds^(s) thrive without water?

While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass.^(t)

Such is the destiny^(u) of all who forget God;^(v) so perishes the hope of the godless.^(w)

What they trust in is fragile^[a]; what they rely on is a spider's web.^(x)

They lean on the web,^(y) but it gives way; they cling to it, but it does not hold.^(z)

They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots^(aa) over the garden;^(ab)

it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks and looks for a place among the stones.

But when it is torn from its spot, that place disowns^(ac) it and says, ‘I never saw you.'^(ad)

Surely its life withers^(ae) away, and^[b] from the soil other plants grow.^(af)

"Surely God does not reject one who is blameless^(ag) or strengthen the hands of evildoers.^(ah)

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter^(ai) and your lips with shouts of joy.^(aj)

Your enemies will be clothed in shame,^(ak) and the tents^(al) of the wicked will be no more."^(am)