Job 14
1 “Man, born of woman! Of few days, and full of trouble!
Man, born of woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.
2 As a flower he has gone forth, and is cut off, And he flees as a shadow and does not stand.
He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; and he fleeth as a shadow, and continueth not.
3 Also—on this You have opened Your eyes, and bring me into judgment with You.
Yet dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
4 Who gives a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one.
Who can bring a clean [man] out of the unclean? Not 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 his days are determined, if the number of his months is with thee, [and] thou hast appointed his bounds which he must not pass,
6 Look away from off him that he may cease, Until he enjoy as a hired worker his day.
Look away from him; and let him rest, till he accomplish, as a hireling, his day.
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: if it be cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender branch will not cease;
8 If its root becomes old in the earth, And its stem dies in the dust,
Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stock die in the ground,
9 From the fragrance of water it flourishes, And has made a crop as a plant.
Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and put forth boughs like a young plant.
10 And a man dies, and becomes weak, And man expires, and where [is] he?
But a man dieth, and is prostrate; yea, man expireth, and where is he?
11 Waters have gone away from a sea, And a river becomes waste and dry.
The waters recede from the lake, and the river wasteth and drieth 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.
So man lieth down, and riseth not again; till the heavens be no more, they do not awake, nor are raised out of 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)
Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, that thou wouldest keep me secret until thine anger be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me, — (Sheol h7585)
14 If a man dies—does he revive? All [the] days of my warfare I wait, until my change comes.
(If a man die, shall he live [again]?) all the days of my time of toil would I wait, till my change should come:
15 You call, and I answer You; To the work of Your hands You have desire.
Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee; thou wouldest have a desire after the work of thy hands.
16 But now, You number my steps, You do not watch over my sin.
For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
17 My transgression [is] sealed up in a bag, and You sew up my iniquity.
My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou heapest up mine iniquity.
18 And yet, a falling mountain wastes away, and a rock is removed from its place.
And indeed a mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed 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, the floods thereof wash away the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.
20 You prevail [over] him forever, and he goes, He is changing his countenance, And You send him away.
Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth away; thou changest his countenance, and dismissest him.
21 His sons are honored, and he does not know; And they are little, and he does not attend to them.
His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, and he perceiveth it not.
22 Only—his flesh is pained for him, And his soul mourns for him.”
But his flesh hath pain for himself alone, and his soul mourneth for himself.
