Job 14

1 Man, born of woman! Of few days, and full of trouble!

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

2 As a flower he hath gone forth, and is cut off, And he fleeth as a shadow and standeth not.

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

3 Also — on this Thou hast opened Thine eyes, And dost bring me into judgment with Thee.

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

4 Who giveth a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

For who shall be pure from uncleanness? not even one;

5 If determined are his days, The number of his months [are] with Thee, His limit Thou hast made, And he passeth not over;

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 Look away from off him that he may cease, Till he enjoy as an hireling his day.

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

7 For there is of a tree hope, if it be cut down, That again it doth change, That its tender branch doth not cease.

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 If its root becometh old in the earth, And its stem doth die in the dust,

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

9 From the fragrance of water it doth flourish, And hath made a crop as a plant.

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

10 And a man dieth, and becometh weak, And man expireth, and where [is] he?

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

11 Waters have gone away from a sea, And a river becometh waste and dry.

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

12 And man hath lain down, and riseth not, Till the wearing out of the heavens they awake not, Nor are roused from their sleep.

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 O that in Sheol Thou wouldest conceal me, Hide me till the turning of Thine anger, Set for me a limit, and remember me. (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 If a man dieth — doth he revive? All days of my warfare I wait, till my change come.

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 Thou dost call, and I — I answer Thee; To the work of Thy hands Thou hast desire.

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

16 But now, my steps Thou numberest, Thou dost not watch over my sin.

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

17 Sealed up in a bag [is] my transgression, And Thou sewest up mine iniquity.

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

18 And yet, a falling mountain wasteth away, And a rock is removed from its place.

And verily a mountain falling will utterly be destroyed, and a rock shall be worn out of its place.

19 Stones have waters worn away, Their outpourings wash away the dust of earth, And the hope of man Thou hast destroyed.

The waters wear the stones, and waters falling headlong [overflow] a heap of the earth: and you destroy the hope of man.

20 Thou prevailest [over] him for ever, and he goeth, He is changing his countenance, And Thou sendest him away.

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

21 Honoured are his sons, and he knoweth not; And they are little, and he attendeth not to them.

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

22 Only — his flesh for him is pained, And his soul for him doth mourn.'

But his flesh is in pain, and his soul mourns.