< 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 comes forth like a flower, and is cut down: he flees also as a shadow, and continues not.
3 Also—on this You have opened Your eyes, and bring me into judgment with You.
And does you open your eyes on such an one, and bring me into judgment with you?
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 are with you, you have 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.
Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an 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 bring forth boughs like a plant.
10 And a man dies, and becomes weak, And man expires, and where [is] he?
But man dies, and wastes away: yes, man gives up the ghost, 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 flood decays and dries 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 lies down, and rises not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be 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)
O that you would hide me in the grave, that you would keep me secret, until your wrath be past, that you would 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 appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
15 You call, and I answer You; To the work of Your hands You have desire.
You shall call, and I will answer you: you will have a desire to the work of your hands.
16 But now, You number my steps, You do not watch over my sin.
For now you number my steps: do you 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 you sew up my iniquity.
18 And yet, a falling mountain wastes away, and a rock is removed from its place.
And surely the mountains falling comes to nothing, and the rock is removed out of his 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: you wash away the things which grow out of the dust 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 prevail for ever against him, and he passes: you change his countenance, 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.
His sons come to honor, and he knows it not; and they are brought low, but he perceives it not of them.
22 Only—his flesh is pained for him, And his soul mourns for him.”
But his flesh on him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.

< Job 14 >