“Would He not leave my few days alone? Withdraw from me so that I may have a little cheerfulness
Parallel translations
- WEB Aren’t my days few? Cease then. Leave me alone, that I may find a little comfort,
- KJV Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,
- BSB Are my days not few? Withdraw from me, that I may have a little comfort,
- NKJV Are not my days few? Cease! Leave me alone, that I may take a little comfort,
- NLT I have only a few days left, so leave me alone, that I may have a moment of comfort
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Job pleads that since his days are few, God would relent and leave him alone for a little comfort. He begs for a brief respite before death.
Overview
Aware of life's brevity, Job asks God to turn away His afflicting gaze so he might find a moment of ease. The request reflects how heavy his suffering has become. While Job longs only for relief, the gospel offers more, an eternal comfort and rest secured by Christ for the weary (Matthew 11:28; Revelation 21:4).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Job 14:1“Man, who is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.
- Ps 39:13Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go away, and exist no more.”
- Job 7:6–7My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.
- Job 7:16–21I loathe my life. I don’t want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
- Ps 39:5Behold, you have made my days hand widths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath.” Selah.
- Ps 103:15–16As for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
- Job 13:21withdraw your hand far from me; and don’t let your terror make me afraid.
- Job 9:25–26“Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away, they see no good.
- Job 8:9(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.)
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 10:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.