Job 14

1 Man that is born of a 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: he fleeth also 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 And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?

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

4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

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

5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot 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 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.

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

7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof 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 the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof 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 bring forth boughs like a plant.

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

10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?

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

11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth 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: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be 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 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath 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 appointed time will I wait, till my change 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 shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine 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 sewest up mine iniquity.

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

18 And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.

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

19 The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of 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: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.

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, but he perceiveth it not of them.

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

22 But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.

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