Job 14
1 “We humans are very frail. We live only a short time, and we experience a lot of trouble.
Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
2 We disappear quickly, like flowers that grow from the ground quickly and then wither and die [SIM]. We are like shadows that disappear [when the sun stops shining].
He cometh forth like a flower, and withereth; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
3 [Yahweh, ] why do you keep watching me [to see if I am doing something that is wrong] [RHQ]? Are you wanting to take me to court to judge me?
And dost Thou open Thine eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into judgment with Thee?
4 People are sinners from the time when they are born; who can cause them to be sinless? No one [RHQ]!
Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
5 You have decided how long our lives will be. You have decided how many months we will live, and we cannot live more months than the (limit/number of months) that you have decided.
Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with Thee, and Thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
6 So please stop examining us, and allow us to be alone, until/while we finish our time [here on earth], like a man finishes his work [at the end of the day].
Look away from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.
7 If someone cuts a tree down, we hope that it will sprout again and grow new branches.
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 Its roots in the ground may be very old, and its stump may decay,
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
9 but if some water falls on it, it may bud/sprout and send up shoots like a young plant.
Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and put forth boughs like a plant.
10 But when we people lose all our strength and die, we stop breathing and then we are gone [forever].
But man dieth, and lieth low; yea, man perisheth, and where is he?
11 Just like water evaporates from the ocean, or like a riverbed dries up,
As the waters fail from the sea, and the river is drained dry;
12 people [lie down and die and] do not get up again. Until the heavens disappear, people who die [EUP] do not wake up, and no one can wake them up.
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 [“Yahweh, ] I wish that you would put me safely in the place of the dead and forget about me until you are no longer angry with me. I wish that you would decide how much time I would spend there, and then remember [that] I [am there]. (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 When we humans die, we will certainly not live again [RHQ]. If [I knew that] we would live again, I would wait patiently, and I would wait for you to release me [from my sufferings].
If a man die, may he live again? All the days of my service would I wait, till my relief should come —
15 You would call me, and I would answer. You would be eager to see me, one of the creatures that you had made.
Thou wouldest call, and I would answer Thee; Thou wouldest have a desire to the work of Thy hands.
16 You would take care of [MET] me, instead of watching me to see if I would sin.
But now Thou numberest my steps, Thou dost not even wait for my sin;
17 [It is as though the record of] my sins would be sealed in a small bag, and you would cover them up.
My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and Thou heapest up mine iniquity.
18 “But, just like mountains crumble and rocks fall down from a cliff,
And surely the mountain falling crumbleth away, and the rock is removed out of its place;
19 and just like water slowly wears away the stones, and just like floods wash away soil, [you eventually destroy us]; you do not allow us to continue to (hope/confidently expect) [that we will keep on living].
The waters wear the stones; the overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth; so Thou destroyest the hope of man.
20 You always defeat us, and then we die [EUP]. You cause our faces to look ugly after we die, and you send us away.
Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth; Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
21 [When we die] we do not know if our sons will grow up and [do things that will cause them to] be honored. And if they become disgraced, we do not see that, [either].
His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he regardeth them not.
22 We will feel our own pains; we will not feel anything else; we will be sorry for ourselves, not for anyone else.”
But his flesh grieveth for him, and his soul mourneth over him.
