Job 14
1 “Man, born of woman! Of few days, and full of trouble!
Man that is born of a 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 withereth; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
3 Also—on this You have opened Your eyes, and bring me into judgment with You.
And 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 thing out of an 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;
Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with Thee, and Thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
6 Look away from off him that he may cease, Until he enjoy as a hired worker his day.
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, if it is cut down, That it changes again, That its tender branch does not cease.
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 If its root becomes old in the earth, And its stem dies in the dust,
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof 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 plant.
10 And a man dies, and becomes weak, And man expires, and where [is] he?
But man dieth, and lieth low; yea, man perisheth, and where is he?
11 Waters have gone away from a sea, And a river becomes waste and dry.
As the waters fail from the sea, and the river is drained dry;
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; till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be roused 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 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 If a man dies—does he revive? All [the] days of my warfare I wait, until my change comes.
If a man die, may he live again? All the days of my service would I wait, till my relief 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 to the work of Thy hands.
16 But now, You number my steps, You do not watch over my sin.
But now Thou numberest my steps, Thou dost not even wait for 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 surely the mountain falling crumbleth away, 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 overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth; so 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; Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
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, but he regardeth them not.
22 Only—his flesh is pained for him, And his soul mourns for him.”
But his flesh grieveth for him, and his soul mourneth over him.
