New International Version If I have sinned, what have I done to you, you who see everything we do? Why have you made me your target? Have I become a burden to you? New Living Translation If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of all humanity? Why make me your target? Am I a burden to you? English Standard Version If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of mankind? Why have you made me your mark? Why have I become a burden to you? Berean Standard Bible 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? Berean Literal Bible If I have sinned, what have I done to You, O watcher of mankind? Why have You set me to be a target for You and why should I be a burden to You? King James Bible 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? New King James Version Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself? New American Standard Bible “Have I sinned? What have I done to You, Watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, So that I am a burden to myself? NASB 1995 “Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself? NASB 1977 “Have I sinned? What have I done to Thee, O watcher of men? Why hast Thou set me as Thy target, So that I am a burden to myself? Legacy Standard Bible Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself? Amplified Bible “If I have sinned, what [harm] have I done to You, O Watcher of mankind? Why have You set me as a target for You, So that I am a burden to myself? Berean Annotated Bible 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 (burden) to You [to myself] Christian Standard Bible If I have sinned, what have I done to you, Watcher of humanity? Why have you made me your target, so that I have become a burden to you? Holman Christian Standard Bible If I have sinned, what have I done to You, Watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, so that I have become a burden to You? American Standard Version 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? Contemporary English Version Why do you watch us so closely? What's it to you, if I sin? Why am I your target and such a heavy burden? English Revised Version 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? GOD'S WORD® Translation If I sin, what can I [possibly] do to you since you insist on spying on people? Why do you make me your target? I've become a burden even to myself. Good News Translation Are you harmed by my sin, you jailer? Why use me for your target practice? Am I so great a burden to you? International Standard Version So what if I sin? What have I done against you, you observer of humankind? Why have you made me your target? Why burden yourself with me? NET Bible If I have sinned--what have I done to you, O watcher of men? Why have you set me as your target? Have I become a burden to you? New Heart English Bible If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself? Webster's Bible Translation I have sinned; what shall I do to thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleIf 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? World English Bible If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself? Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionI have sinned, what do I do to You, "" O watcher of man? Why have You set me for a mark to You, "" And I am for a burden to myself—and what? Berean Literal Bible If I have sinned, what have I done to You, O watcher of mankind? Why have You set me to be a target for You and why should I be a burden to You? Young's Literal Translation I have sinned, what do I to Thee, O watcher of man? Why hast Thou set me for a mark to Thee, And I am for a burden to myself -- and what? Smith's Literal Translation I sinned; what shall I do to thee, guarding men? wherefore didst thou set me for an assault to thee, and I shall be upon myself for a burden? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleI have sinned: what shall I do to thee, O keeper of men? why hast thou set me opposite to thee, and I am become burdensome to myself? Catholic Public Domain Version I have sinned; what should I do for you, O keeper of men? Why have you set me against you, so that I have become burdensome even to myself? New American Bible If I sin, what do I do to you, O watcher of mortals? Why have you made me your target? Why should I be a burden for you? New Revised Standard Version If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of humanity? Why have you made me your target? Why have I become a burden to you? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleIf I have sinned; what have I done to thee, O thou Creator of men? Why hast thou caused me to encounter thee? Thou hast become a burden to me. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated If I have sinned, what shall I do to you, The Maker of Man? Why have you appointed me that I would meet with you, and you have been a burden to me? OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917If 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? Brenton Septuagint Translation If I have sinned, what shall I be able to do, O thou that understandest the mind of men? why hast thou made me as thine accuser, and why am I a burden to thee? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Job Continues: Life Seems Futile…19Will You never look away from me, or leave me alone to swallow my spittle? 20If 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? 21Why do You not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For soon I will lie down in the dust; You will seek me, but I will be no more.”… Cross References If I have sinned, Psalm 51:4 Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge. 2 Samuel 12:13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die. 1 Samuel 15:24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have transgressed the LORD’s commandment and your instructions, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. what have I done to You, Micah 6:3 ‘My people, what have I done to you? Testify against Me how I have wearied you! Jeremiah 2:5 This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me? They followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves. Job 35:6-8 If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? If you multiply your transgressions, what do you do to Him? / If you are righteous, what do you give Him, or what does He receive from your hand? / Your wickedness affects only a man like yourself, and your righteousness only a son of man. O watcher of mankind? Psalm 11:4 The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men. Psalm 33:13-15 The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. / From His dwelling place He gazes on all who inhabit the earth. / He shapes the hearts of each; He considers all their works. Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good. Why have You made me Your target, Job 16:12-13 I was at ease, but He shattered me; He seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has set me up as His target; / His archers surround me. He pierces my kidneys without mercy and spills my gall on the ground. Lamentations 3:12 He bent His bow and set me as the target for His arrow. Psalm 38:2 For Your arrows have pierced me deeply, and Your hand has pressed down on me. so that I am a burden to You? Isaiah 43:24 You have not bought Me sweet cane with your silver, nor satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened Me with your sins; you have wearied Me with your iniquities. Isaiah 7:13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God as well? Malachi 2:17 You have wearied the LORD with your words; yet you ask, “How have we wearied Him?” By saying, “All who do evil are good in the sight of the LORD, and in them He delights,” or, “Where is the God of justice?” Psalm 139:1-2 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me. / You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar. Treasury of Scripture I have sinned; what shall I do to you, O you preserver of men? why have you set me as a mark against you, so that I am a burden to myself? I have sinned. Job 9:29-31 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain? … Job 13:26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth. Job 14:16 For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin? O thou preserver. Nehemiah 9:6 Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. Psalm 36:6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. why hast. Job 7:12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me? Job 6:4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me. Job 16:12-14 I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark… I am. Job 7:11 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. Job 3:24 For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters. Jump to Previous Assault Blows Burden Keeper Mark Object Preserver Sin Sinned Target Watcher Weariness WrongJump to Next Assault Blows Burden Keeper Mark Object Preserver Sin Sinned Target Watcher Weariness WrongJob 7 1. Job excuses his desire of death.12. He complains of his own restlessness, and reasons with God. If I have sinned, Job does not claim sinlessness, but asks how any sin of his could warrant such relentless affliction. His suffering has exceeded the ordinary consequences he can understand, exposing the limits of the belief that every hardship is a direct punishment for personal wrongdoing. Psa 51:4 Against You, You only, have I sinned… what have I done to You, Job knows that no human act can injure God, yet he feels treated as though he has committed an offense demanding constant judgment. His question rises from grief and confusion rather than rebellion. Mic 6:3 My people, what have I done to you? Testify against Me… O watcher of mankind? Job addresses God as the One who sees and examines every human life. God’s watchfulness, ordinarily a source of comfort and protection, feels to Job like unrelenting scrutiny. Psa 11:4 The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His throne… Why have You made me Your target, Job pictures himself as the object of God’s attacks, struck repeatedly without understanding the cause. He feels singled out while his body, family, and peace have been taken from him. Job 16:12-13 I was at ease, but He shattered me; He seized me… so that I am a burden to You? In his despair, Job wonders why God continues to deal with him as though his existence were troublesome. Yet the account shows that Job is not forgotten or worthless; his trials are part of a larger purpose not yet revealed to him. Isa 43:24 You have not bought Me sweet cane with your silver,… Persons / Places / Events 1. JobA man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, experiencing intense suffering and questioning God's justice. 2. God (Watcher of men) Referred to as the "Watcher of men," highlighting His omniscience and omnipresence. Job addresses God directly, questioning His actions and intentions. 3. Job's Suffering The context of this verse is Job's lament over his suffering, which he perceives as unjust and overwhelming. He feels targeted by God despite his innocence. Teaching Points Understanding God's OmniscienceRecognize that God is the "Watcher of men," fully aware of our actions, thoughts, and struggles. This awareness should lead us to live transparently before Him. The Reality of Suffering Suffering is a part of the human experience, and even the righteous may endure hardships. Job's account reminds us that suffering is not always a direct result of personal sin. Questioning and Faith It is natural to question God during times of suffering, as Job did. However, maintaining faith and seeking understanding through prayer and scripture is crucial. God's Sovereignty and Justice Trust in God's sovereignty and justice, even when His ways are beyond our understanding. Job's account encourages us to hold onto faith amidst trials. Reflecting on Personal Sin While Job questions his sinfulness, it is important for us to regularly reflect on our own lives, confessing and repenting of sin, and seeking God's forgiveness. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Job 7:20?2. How does Job 7:20 reflect our understanding of human suffering and sin? 3. What does Job 7:20 teach about God's role as "watcher of mankind"? 4. How can we apply Job's honesty with God to our prayer life? 5. In what ways does Job 7:20 connect with Romans 3:23 about sin? 6. How can acknowledging our sin, as Job does, deepen our relationship with God? 7. Why does Job question God's attention to him in Job 7:20? 8. How does Job 7:20 reflect human suffering and divine oversight? 9. What does Job 7:20 reveal about God's relationship with humanity? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Job 7? (20) I have sinned--i.e., "Putting the case that I have sinned, yet what then can I do unto Thee, O thou keeper of men? "with a possible allusion to Job 7:12, though the verb is not the same. O thou preserver of men.--"Why hast Thou set me as a mark for Thee to expend all Thine arrows upon?" or, "Why hast Thou made me to be Thy stumbling-block, so that Thou ever comest into collision against me, so that I am become a burden to myself?" Verse 20. - I have sinned. This is not so much a confession as a concession, equivalent to "Granting that I have sinned," or, "Suppose that I have sinned." In that case, What shall I do unto thee? or, What can I do for thee? How is it in my power to do anything? Can I undo the past? Or can I make compensation in the future? Neither seems to Job to be possible. O thou Preserver of men; rather, thou Observer of men. A continuation of the complaint that God's eye is always upon him. Why hast thou set me as a mark against thee? "A mark" (מפגע) is either "a butt," "a target for arrows," or else "an obstacle," "a stumbling-block," which God, by repeated blows, is removing out of his way. The latter meaning is preferred by Schultens and Professor Lee; the former by Rosenmuller and our Revisers. So that I am a burden to myself (comp. Psalm 38:4). Job 7:20 reveals a faithful sufferer wrestling honestly with God’s providence:• He concedes the possibility of sin yet cannot identify a specific offense. • He affirms God’s all-seeing nature but feels singled out and crushed. • He dreads that his life has become an intolerable weight to the Lord, even while Scripture shows God is both holy toward sin and merciful toward sinners. Taken together, the verse portrays the believer’s cry for clarity amid pain and underscores the larger message of Job: God’s purposes may be hidden, but His character—holy, watchful, and ultimately compassionate—remains unshaken. Hebrew If I have sinned,חָטָ֡אתִי (ḥā·ṭā·ṯî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn what מָ֤ה (māh) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what have I done to You, אֶפְעַ֨ל ׀ (’ep̄·‘al) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 6466: To do, make, to practise O Watcher נֹצֵ֪ר (nō·ṣêr) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct Strong's 5341: To watch, guard, keep of mankind? הָאָ֫דָ֥ם (hā·’ā·ḏām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being Why לָ֤מָה (lā·māh) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what have You made me שַׂמְתַּ֣נִי (śam·ta·nî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set Your target, לְמִפְגָּ֣ע (lə·mip̄·gā‘) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4645: Something hit, a mark so that I am וָאֶהְיֶ֖ה (wā·’eh·yeh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be a burden לְמַשָּֽׂא׃ (lə·maś·śā) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4853: A burden, tribute, porterage, an utterance, chiefly a, doom, singing, mental, desire to You? עָלַ֣י (‘ā·lay) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against Additonal Resources Job 7:20 Blue Letter BibleJob 7:20 Bible Gateway Job 7:20 Bible.com Job 7:20 NIV |
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