Job 14

1 For a mortal born of a woman [is] short lived, and full of wrath.

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

2 Or he falls like a flower that has bloomed; and he departs like a shadow, and can’t continue.

He cometh forth like a flower, and withereth; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

3 Hast you not taken account even of him, and caused him to enter into judgment before you?

And dost Thou open Thine eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into judgment with Thee?

4 For who shall be pure from uncleanness? not even one;

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

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].

Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with Thee, and Thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

6 Depart from him, that he may be quiet, and take pleasure in his life, [though] as a hireling.

Look away from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.

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.

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.

8 For though its root should grow old in the earth, and its stem die in the rock;

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

9 it will blossom from the scent of water, and will produce a crop, as one newly planted.

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

10 But a man that has died is utterly gone; and when a mortal has fallen, he is no more.

But man dieth, and lieth low; yea, man perisheth, and where is he?

11 For the sea wastes in [length of] time, and a river fails and is dried up.

As the waters fail from the sea, and the river is drained dry;

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.

So man lieth down and riseth not; till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be roused out of their 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)

Oh that Thou wouldest hide me in the nether-world, that Thou wouldest keep me secret, until Thy wrath be past, that Thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and 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?

If a man die, may he live again? All the days of my service would I wait, till my relief should come —

15 Then shall you call, and I will listen to you: but do not you reject the work of your hands.

Thou wouldest call, and I would answer Thee; Thou wouldest have a desire to the work of Thy hands.

16 But you have numbered my devices: and not one of my sins shall escape you?

But now Thou numberest my steps, Thou dost not even wait for my sin;

17 An you have sealed up my transgressions in a bag, and marked if I have been guilty of any transgression unawares.

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

18 And verily a mountain falling will utterly be destroyed, and a rock shall be worn out of its place.

And surely the mountain falling crumbleth away, and the rock is removed out of 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.

The waters wear the stones; the overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth; so Thou destroyest the hope of man.

20 You drive him to an end, and he is gone: you set your face against him, and send him away;

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

21 and though his children be multiplied, he knows [it] not; and if they be few, he is not aware.

His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he regardeth them not.

22 But his flesh is in pain, and his soul mourns.

But his flesh grieveth for him, and his soul mourneth over him.