Job 14
1 For a mortal born of a woman [is] short lived, and full of wrath.
Man, born of woman, living for a short time, is filled with many miseries.
2 Or he falls like a flower that has bloomed; and he departs like a shadow, and can’t continue.
He comes forth like a flower, and is crushed, and he flees, as if a shadow, and never remains in the same state.
3 Hast you not taken account even of him, and caused him to enter into judgment before you?
And do you consider it fitting to look down with your eyes on someone in this way and to lead him into judgment with you?
4 For who shall be pure from uncleanness? not even one;
Who can make him clean who is conceived of unclean seed? Are you not the only one who can?
5 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].
The days of man are short, and the number of his months is with you; you have determined his limits, which cannot be surpassed.
6 Depart from him, that he may be quiet, and take pleasure in his life, [though] as a hireling.
Withdraw a little from him, so that he may rest, until his awaited day arrives, like that of the hired hand.
7 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.
A tree has hope: if it has been cut, it turns green again, and its branches spring forth.
8 For though its root should grow old in the earth, and its stem die in the rock;
If its roots grow old in the earth, and its trunk passes into dust,
9 it will blossom from the scent of water, and will produce a crop, as one newly planted.
at the scent of water, it will sprout and bring forth leaves, as when it had first been planted.
10 But a man that has died is utterly gone; and when a mortal has fallen, he is no more.
Truly, when a man dies, and has been left unprotected, and has decayed, I ask you where is he?
11 For the sea wastes in [length of] time, and a river fails and is dried up.
It is as if the waters had receded from the sea and an emptied river had dried up;
12 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.
just so, when a man is fallen asleep, he will not rise again, until the heavens are worn away; he will not awaken, nor rise from his sleep.
13 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)
Who will grant this to me, that you will protect me in the underworld, and hide me until your fury passes by, and establish a time for me, in which you will remember me? (Sheol h7585)
14 For if a man should die, shall he live [again], having accomplished the days of his life? I will wait till I exist again?
Do you suppose that a dead man will live again? On each of the days in which I now battle, I wait until my transformation occurs.
15 Then shall you call, and I will listen to you: but do not you reject the work of your hands.
You will call me and I will answer you; to the work of your hands, you will extend your right hand.
16 But you have numbered my devices: and not one of my sins shall escape you?
Indeed, you have numbered my steps, but you have been lenient with my sins.
17 An you have sealed up my transgressions in a bag, and marked if I have been guilty of any transgression unawares.
You have sealed up my offenses, as if in a purse, but you have cured my iniquity.
18 And verily a mountain falling will utterly be destroyed, and a rock shall be worn out of its place.
A falling mountain flows away, and a stone is transferred from its place.
19 The waters wear the stones, and waters falling headlong [overflow] a heap of the earth: and you destroy the hope of man.
Waters wear away stones, and with a flood the land is reduced little by little; and similarly, you will destroy man.
20 You drive him to an end, and he is gone: you set your face against him, and send him away;
You have strengthened him for a little while, so that he may cross over into eternity. You will change his face and send him forth.
21 and though his children be multiplied, he knows [it] not; and if they be few, he is not aware.
Whether his sons have been noble or ignoble, he will not understand.
22 But his flesh is in pain, and his soul mourns.
And in this way his body, while he yet lives, will have grief, and his soul will mourn over himself.
