Job 14

1 Man born of a woman is short of days, and sated with harrowing trouble.

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

2 Like a flower he cometh forth, and is cut down: and he fleeth like a shadow, and remaineth not.

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

3 And yet on such a one dost thou open thy eyes, and me thou bringest into judgment with thee?

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

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

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

5 Seeing that his days are determined, the number of his months are [fixed] with thee, that thou hast set his bounds which he cannot pass:

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].

6 Turn thyself from him that he may recover from his pain, and be able to enjoy like a hired laborer his day.

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

7 For there is hope for the tree: if it be cut down, it may still sprout again, while its young shoot will not cease.

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.

8 If even its root become old in the earth, and its stock die in the dust:

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

9 Yet through the scent of water will it flourish [again], and produce boughs as though It were newly planted.

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

10 But man dieth, and lieth powerless: yea, the son of earth departeth—and where is he?

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

11 The waters run off from the sea, and the river faileth and drieth up:

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

12 So doth man lie down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they will not awake, and will not be roused out of their sleep.

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.

13 Oh who would grant that thou mightest hide me in the nether world, that thou mightest conceal me, until thy wrath be appeased, that thou mightest set for me a fixed time, and remember me then! (Sheol h7585)

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)

14 Or, when a man dieth, will he live again? all the days of my time of service would I then wait, till [the hour of] my release were come.

For if a man should die, shall he live [again], having accomplished the days of his life? I will wait till I exist again?

15 Do thou call, and I will truly answer thee: have a desire for the work of thy hands.

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

16 Yet now thou numberest my steps: and thou waitest not with [the punishment of] my sin.

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

17 Sealed up in a bag is my transgression, and thou yet addest to my iniquity.

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

18 But truly a falling mountain will crumble, and [even] a rock is moved out of its place.

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

19 The water weareth out stones; thou sweepest away their fragments [like] the dust of the earth: and so thou destroyest the hope of man.

The waters wear the stones, and waters falling headlong [overflow] a heap of the earth: and you destroy the hope of man.

20 Thou assailest him with might without ceasing, till he passeth away: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him off.

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

21 His children acquire honor, but he knoweth it not: and they are esteemed little, but he perceiveth nothing of them.

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

22 But his body. on him, feeleth pain, and his soul will mourn for him.

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