Job 14

1 Man [that is] born of a woman [is] of few days, and full of trouble.

“We humans are very frail. We live only a short time, and we experience a lot of trouble.

2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

We disappear quickly, like flowers that grow from the ground quickly and then wither and die [SIM]. We are like shadows that disappear [when the sun stops shining].

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

[Yahweh, ] why do you keep watching me [to see if I am doing something that is wrong] [RHQ]? Are you wanting to take me to court to judge me?

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

People are sinners from the time when they are born; who can cause them to be sinless? No one [RHQ]!

5 Seeing his days [are] determined, the number of his months [are] with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

You have decided how long our lives will be. You have decided how many months we will live, and we cannot live more months than the (limit/number of months) that you have decided.

6 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.

So please stop examining us, and allow us to be alone, until/while we finish our time [here on earth], like a man finishes his work [at the end of the 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.

If someone cuts a tree down, we hope that it will sprout again and grow new branches.

8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;

Its roots in the ground may be very old, and its stump may decay,

9 [Yet] through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.

but if some water falls on it, it may bud/sprout and send up shoots like a young plant.

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

But when we people lose all our strength and die, we stop breathing and then we are gone [forever].

11 [As] the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:

Just like water evaporates from the ocean, or like a riverbed 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.

people [lie down and die and] do not get up again. Until the heavens disappear, people who die [EUP] do not wake up, and no one can wake them up.

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)

[“Yahweh, ] I wish that you would put me safely in the place of the dead and forget about me until you are no longer angry with me. I wish that you would decide how much time I would spend there, and then remember [that] I [am there]. (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.

When we humans die, we will certainly not live again [RHQ]. If [I knew that] we would live again, I would wait patiently, and I would wait for you to release me [from my sufferings].

15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

You would call me, and I would answer. You would be eager to see me, one of the creatures that you had made.

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

You would take care of [MET] me, instead of watching me to see if I would sin.

17 My transgression [is] sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.

[It is as though the record of] my sins would be sealed in a small bag, and you would cover them up.

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

“But, just like mountains crumble and rocks fall down from a cliff,

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.

and just like water slowly wears away the stones, and just like floods wash away soil, [you eventually destroy us]; you do not allow us to continue to (hope/confidently expect) [that we will keep on living].

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

You always defeat us, and then we die [EUP]. You cause our faces to look ugly after we die, and you send us away.

21 His sons come to honour, and he knoweth [it] not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth [it] not of them.

[When we die] we do not know if our sons will grow up and [do things that will cause them to] be honored. And if they become disgraced, we do not see that, [either].

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

We will feel our own pains; we will not feel anything else; we will be sorry for ourselves, not for anyone else.”