Job 14

1 “Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.

For a mortal born of a woman [is] short lived, and full of wrath.

2 Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.

Or he falls like a flower that has bloomed; and he departs like a shadow, and can’t continue.

3 Do You open Your eyes to one like this? Will You bring him into judgment before You?

Hast you not taken account even of him, and caused him to enter into judgement before you?

4 Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!

For who shall be pure from uncleanness? not even one;

5 Since his days are determined and the number of his months is with You, and since You have set limits that he cannot exceed,

if even his life should be [but] one day upon the earth: and his months are numbered by him: you have appointed [him] for a time, and he shall by no means exceed [it].

6 look away from him and let him rest, so he can enjoy his day as a hired hand.

Depart from him, that he may be quiet, and take pleasure in his life, [though] as a hireling.

7 For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail.

For there is hope for a tree, even if it should be cut down, [that] it shall blossom again, and its branch shall not fail.

8 If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil,

For though its root should grow old in the earth, and its stem die in the rock;

9 at the scent of water it will bud and put forth twigs like a sapling.

it will blossom from the scent of water, and will produce a crop, as one newly planted.

10 But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?

But a man that has died is utterly gone; and when a mortal has fallen, he is no more.

11 As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry,

For the sea wastes in [length of] time, and a river fails and is dried up.

12 so a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, he will not be awakened or roused from sleep.

And man that has lain down [in death] shall certainly not rise again till the heaven be dissolved, and they shall not awake from their sleep.

13 If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me! (Sheol h7585)

For oh that you had kept me in the grave, and had hidden me until your wrath should cease, and you should set me a time in which you would remember me! (Sheol h7585)

14 When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes.

For if a man should die, shall he live [again], having accomplished the days of his life? I will wait till I exist again?

15 You will call, and I will answer; You will desire the work of Your hands.

Then shall you call, and I will listen to you: but do not you reject the work of your hands.

16 For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.

But you have numbered my devices: and not one of my sins shall escape you?

17 My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.

An you have sealed up my transgressions in a bag, and marked if I have been guilty of any transgression unawares.

18 But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,

And verily a mountain falling will utterly be destroyed, and a rock shall be worn out of its place.

19 as water wears away the stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy a man’s hope.

The waters wear the stones, and waters falling headlong [overflow] a heap of the earth: and you destroy the hope of man.

20 You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.

You drive him to an end, and he is gone: you set your face against him, and send him away;

21 If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware.

and though his children be multiplied, he knows [it] not; and if they be few, he is not aware.

22 He feels only the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.”

But his flesh is in pain, and his soul mourns.