< 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 is cut down: 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 thy eyes upon such one, and bring 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, 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.
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 is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that 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 shall become 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 bring forth boughs like a plant.
10 And a man dies, and becomes weak, And man expires, and where [is] he?
But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth 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 decayeth 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: till the heavens shall 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 )
O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest conceal me, until thy wrath is past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! (Sheol )
14 If a man dies—does he revive? All [the] days of my warfare I wait, until my change comes.
If a man dieth, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change shall come.
15 You call, and I answer You; To the work of Your hands You have desire.
Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to 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 sewest up my iniquity.
18 And yet, a falling mountain wastes away, and a rock is removed from its place.
And surely the 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: thou washest away the things which grow out of 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: 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 perceiveth it not of them.
22 Only—his flesh is pained for him, And his soul mourns for him.”
But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.