Life is endless work
1Hard labor. That’s our life on earth.We’re no different than a field slave.
2We work hard, waiting impatiently for sundown,
Like hired hands waiting for their pay. [1]
3I’ve lived like that for months now,
Waiting futilely for some relief.
What I get are days of emptiness,
And lingering nights of misery.
4I don’t rest in bed.
I think about work
And getting up in the morning.
I toss and turn till dawn.
5My skin lies riddled in scabs.
My flesh grows stiff
And breaks into pockets of oozing pus.
Here today, gone tomorrow
6My life speeds by in a blur,Like flying hands on a weaver’s shuttle.
7My life is just a short bag of breath.
My best days are gone forever.
8You can see me now,
But you won’t see me soon.
You’ll look and I’ll be gone.
9I’m like a cloud,
Here one day and gone the next.
They’ll drop me in the grave [2]
And I'll be gone for good.
10I won’t go home again.
Soon, my family will forget me.
Job unloads on God
11So I’m going to talk while I can.And here’s what I’ll say:
I’ve had all I can take.
And I’m sick to my soul.
12Are you confused?
Do you think I’m a god,
One of the monster gods of the sea? [3]
Why do you treat me like I’m a threat?
13I tell myself that sleep will help
And with rest I’ll feel better.
14But you frighten me with dreams
And visions in the night.
15I would rather choke to death
Than live like this any longer.
16I’ve had it with this life.
I can’t get out of here fast enough.
So leave me in peace
For the short time I have left.
17What are humans to you anyhow?
Why are you so obsessed with them?
18You’re there every morning
And you’re putting us to the test every day.
”Give me a break”
19How about you look somewhere else for a change?Give me one doggone moment of peace,
Long enough to swallow my spit. [4]
20Tell me this, you People Watcher.
What’s my sin? How’d I hurt you?
Why did you turn me into a bullseye?
What did I ever do to you?
21And if I sinned, why didn’t you forgive me?
I’ll be dead in the dirt soon. [5]
If you look for me then,
I won’t be there.
