Job 14

1 Man, born of woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.

“Man, who is born of a woman, is of few 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.

He grows up like a flower, and is cut down. He also flees like a shadow, and doesn’t continue.

3 Yet dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?

Do you open your eyes on such a one, and bring me into judgment with you?

4 Who can bring a clean [man] out of the unclean? Not one!

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not 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,

Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his bounds that he can’t pass.

6 Look away from him; and let him rest, till he accomplish, as a hireling, his day.

Look away from him, that he may rest, until he accomplishes, as a hireling, his day.

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, that it will sprout again, that the tender branch of it will not cease.

8 Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stock die in the ground,

Though its root grows old in the earth, and its stock dies in the ground,

9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and put forth boughs like a young plant.

yet through the scent of water it will bud, and sprout boughs like a plant.

10 But a man dieth, and is prostrate; yea, man expireth, and where is he?

But man dies, and is laid low. Yes, man gives up the spirit, and where is he?

11 The waters recede from the lake, and the river wasteth and drieth up:

As the waters fail from the sea, and the river wastes and dries up,

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 man lies down and doesn’t rise. Until the heavens are no more, they will not awake, nor be roused out of their 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)

“Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would keep me secret until your wrath is past, that you would appoint me a set time and 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:

If a man dies, will he live again? I would wait all the days of my warfare, until my release should come.

15 Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee; thou wouldest have a desire after the work of thy hands.

You would call, and I would answer you. You would have a desire for the work of your hands.

16 For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?

But now you count my steps. Don’t you watch over my sin?

17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou heapest up mine iniquity.

My disobedience is sealed up in a bag. You fasten up my iniquity.

18 And indeed a mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of its place;

“But the mountain falling comes to nothing. The rock is removed out of 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.

The waters wear the stones. The torrents of it wash away the dust of the earth. So you destroy the hope of man.

20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth away; thou changest his countenance, and dismissest him.

You forever prevail against him, and he departs. You change his face, 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.

His sons come to honor, and he doesn’t know it. They are brought low, but he doesn’t perceive it of them.

22 But his flesh hath pain for himself alone, and his soul mourneth for himself.

But his flesh on him has pain, and his soul within him mourns.”