Job 14

1 “Man, born of woman! Of few days, and full of trouble!

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

2 As a flower he has gone forth, and is cut off, And he flees as a shadow and does not stand.

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

3 Also—on this You have opened Your eyes, and bring me into judgment with You.

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

4 Who gives a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one.

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

5 If his days are determined, The number of his months [are] with You, You have made his limit, And he does not pass over;

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 Look away from off him that he may cease, Until he enjoy as a hired worker 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 a tree, if it is cut down, That it changes again, That its tender branch does 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 its root becomes old in the earth, And its stem dies in the dust,

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

9 From the fragrance of water it flourishes, And has made a crop as a plant.

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

10 And a man dies, and becomes weak, And man expires, and where [is] he?

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

11 Waters have gone away from a sea, And a river becomes waste and dry.

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

12 And man has lain down, and does not rise, Until the wearing out of the heavens they do not awaken, Nor are roused from 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 O that You would conceal me in Sheol, Hide me until the turning of Your anger, Set a limit for me, and remember me. (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 If a man dies—does he revive? All [the] days of my warfare I wait, until my change comes.

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 You call, and I answer You; To the work of Your hands You have desire.

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

16 But now, You number my steps, You do not watch over my sin.

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

17 My transgression [is] sealed up in a bag, and You sew up my iniquity.

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

18 And yet, a falling mountain wastes away, and a rock is removed from its place.

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

19 Waters have worn away stones, Their outpourings wash away the dust of earth, And You have destroyed 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 You prevail [over] him forever, and he goes, He is changing his countenance, And You send him away.

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

21 His sons are honored, and he does not know; And they are little, and he does not attend to them.

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

22 Only—his flesh is pained for him, And his soul mourns for him.”

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