Job 14

1 “We humans are very frail. We live only a short time, and we experience a lot of trouble.

For a mortal born of a woman [is] short lived, and full of wrath.

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].

Or he falls like a flower that has bloomed; and he departs like a shadow, and can’t continue.

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?

Hast you not taken account even of him, and caused him to enter into judgment before you?

4 People are sinners from the time when they are born; who can cause them to be sinless? No one [RHQ]!

For who shall be pure from uncleanness? not even 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.

if even his life should be [but] one day upon the earth: and his months are numbered by him: you have appointed [him] for a time, and he shall by no means exceed [it].

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].

Depart from him, that he may be quiet, and take pleasure in his life, [though] as a hireling.

7 If someone cuts a tree down, we hope that it will sprout again and grow new branches.

For there is hope for a tree, even if it should be cut down, [that] it shall blossom again, and its branch shall not fail.

8 Its roots in the ground may be very old, and its stump may decay,

For though its root should grow old in the earth, and its stem die in the rock;

9 but if some water falls on it, it may bud/sprout and send up shoots like a young plant.

it will blossom from the scent of water, and will produce a crop, as one newly planted.

10 But when we people lose all our strength and die, we stop breathing and then we are gone [forever].

But a man that has died is utterly gone; and when a mortal has fallen, he is no more.

11 Just like water evaporates from the ocean, or like a riverbed dries up,

For the sea wastes in [length of] time, and a river fails and is dried up.

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.

And man that has lain down [in death] shall certainly not rise again till the heaven be dissolved, and they shall not awake from 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)

For oh that you had kept me in the grave, and had hidden me until your wrath should cease, and you should set me a time in which you would 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].

For if a man should die, shall he live [again], having accomplished the days of his life? I will wait till I exist again?

15 You would call me, and I would answer. You would be eager to see me, one of the creatures that you had made.

Then shall you call, and I will listen to you: but do not you reject the work of your hands.

16 You would take care of [MET] me, instead of watching me to see if I would sin.

But you have numbered my devices: and not one of my sins shall escape you?

17 [It is as though the record of] my sins would be sealed in a small bag, and you would cover them up.

An you have sealed up my transgressions in a bag, and marked if I have been guilty of any transgression unawares.

18 “But, just like mountains crumble and rocks fall down from a cliff,

And verily a mountain falling will utterly be destroyed, and a rock shall be worn 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, and waters falling headlong [overflow] a heap of the earth: and you destroy 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.

You drive him to an end, and he is gone: you set your face against him, and send 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].

and though his children be multiplied, he knows [it] not; and if they be few, he is not aware.

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 is in pain, and his soul mourns.