1.
Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
CHAP. VII.
Job goes on to pour out his lamentations in the most pathetic manner, and expostulates with God, praying to be speedily released from his miseries; or that God would grant him some little respite, till the time of their termination should come.
Before Christ 1645.
2.
As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:
Job 7:2. As a servant earnestly desireth, &c.— As a servant panteth for the shade; that is, wherein he may refresh and recruit himself when wearied with labours in the heat of the day. Schultens. Heath renders the next clause, And as the hireling earnestly longeth for his wages.
3.
So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
Job 7:3. So am I made to possess— So am I made to inherit—and nights of misery are my portion: Heath; who, instead of I am full of tossings, in the next verse, reads, I am tired, or wearied out with tossings.
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.
5.
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.
6.
My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.
Job 7:6. And are spent without hope— תקוה באפס ויכלו vayiklu beaepes tikvah. Literally, And they are destroyed even to the extremity of hope. Heath renders it, And even the least glimmering of hope is at an end.
7.
O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.
8.
The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.
9.
As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.
10.
He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
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.
12.
Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?
Job 7:12. Am I a sea, or a whale, &c.— Houbigant renders it, Am I a sea or a whale, that thou raisest a tempest against me? an idea which very well suits with that storm of troubles wherewith Job was nearly overwhelmed.
13.
When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;
14.
Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:
15.
So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.
Job 7:15. So that my soul chooseth strangling, &c.— My soul therefore chooseth strangling; death rather than the recovery of my health. Heath. But Houbigant renders it thus: Yet thou preservest me from a violent end, and drivest death far from my bones: Job 7:16. Yet I shall not live always; cease therefore from me, since my days are vanity. See his note.
16.
I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
17.
What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
Job 7:17. What is man, &c.?— What is mortal man, that thou shouldst contend with him, and that thou shouldst set thy heart against him? Schultens.
18.
And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
19.
How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
Job 7:19. How long wilt thou not depart from me?— Literally, How long wilt thou not take thine eyes off me? This is a metaphor borrowed from combatants, who never take their eyes off from their antagonists. The figure is preserved in the next sentence, which represents a combatant seized by his adversary in such a manner as to prevent his swallowing his spittle, or fetching his breath. Till I swallow my spittle, is an Arabic proverb at present in use, signifying a very short time. See Schultens and Houbigant.
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?
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.