Job 14
1 Man, born of woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.
“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.
2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; and he fleeth as a shadow, and continueth not.
Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.
3 Yet dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
Do You open Your eyes to one like this? Will You bring him into judgment before You?
4 Who can bring a clean [man] out of the unclean? Not one!
Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!
5 If his days are determined, if the number of his months is with thee, [and] thou hast appointed his bounds which he must not pass,
Since his days are determined and the number of his months is with You, and since You have set limits that he cannot exceed,
6 Look away from him; and let him rest, till he accomplish, as a hireling, his day.
look away from him and let him rest, so he can enjoy his day as a hired hand.
7 For there is hope for a tree: if it be cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender branch will not cease;
For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail.
8 Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stock die in the ground,
If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil,
9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and put forth boughs like a young plant.
at the scent of water it will bud and put forth twigs like a sapling.
10 But a man dieth, and is prostrate; yea, man expireth, and where is he?
But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?
11 The waters recede from the lake, and the river wasteth and drieth up:
As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry,
12 So man lieth down, and riseth not again; till the heavens be no more, they do not awake, nor are raised out of their sleep.
so a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, he will not be awakened or roused from sleep.
13 Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, that thou wouldest keep me secret until thine anger be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me, — (Sheol h7585)
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)
14 (If a man die, shall he live [again]?) all the days of my time of toil would I wait, till my change should come:
When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes.
15 Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee; thou wouldest have a desire after the work of thy hands.
You will call, and I will answer; You will desire the work of Your hands.
16 For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.
17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou heapest up mine iniquity.
My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.
18 And indeed a mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of its place;
But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,
19 The waters wear the stones, the floods thereof wash away the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.
as water wears away the stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy a man’s hope.
20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth away; thou changest his countenance, and dismissest him.
You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.
21 His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, and he perceiveth it not.
If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware.
22 But his flesh hath pain for himself alone, and his soul mourneth for himself.
He feels only the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.”
