איוב 14

1 אָדָם יְלוּד אִשָּׁה קְצַר יָמִים וּֽשְׂבַֽע־רֹֽגֶז׃

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

2 כְּצִיץ יָצָא וַיִּמָּל וַיִּבְרַח כַּצֵּל וְלֹא יַעֲמֽוֹד׃

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

3 אַף־עַל־זֶה פָּקַחְתָּ עֵינֶךָ וְאֹתִי תָבִיא בְמִשְׁפָּט עִמָּֽךְ׃

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

4 מִֽי־יִתֵּן טָהוֹר מִטָּמֵא לֹא אֶחָֽד׃

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

5 אִם חֲרוּצִים ׀ יָמָיו מִֽסְפַּר־חֳדָשָׁיו אִתָּךְ חקו חֻקָּיו עָשִׂיתָ וְלֹא יַעֲבֽוֹר׃

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 שְׁעֵה מֵעָלָיו וְיֶחְדָּל עַד־יִרְצֶה כְּשָׂכִיר יוֹמֽוֹ׃

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

7 כִּי יֵשׁ לָעֵץ תִּקְוָה אִֽם־יִכָּרֵת וְעוֹד יַחֲלִיף וְיֹֽנַקְתּוֹ לֹא תֶחְדָּֽל׃

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 אִם־יַזְקִין בָּאָרֶץ שָׁרְשׁוֹ וּבֶעָפָר יָמוּת גִּזְעֽוֹ׃

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

9 מֵרֵיחַ מַיִם יַפְרִחַ וְעָשָׂה קָצִיר כְּמוֹ־נָֽטַע׃

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

10 וְגֶבֶר יָמוּת וַֽיֶּחֱלָשׁ וַיִּגְוַע אָדָם וְאַיּֽוֹ׃

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

11 אָֽזְלוּ־מַיִם מִנִּי־יָם וְנָהָר יֶחֱרַב וְיָבֵֽשׁ׃

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

12 וְאִישׁ שָׁכַב וְֽלֹא־יָקוּם עַד־בִּלְתִּי שָׁמַיִם לֹא יָקִיצוּ וְלֹֽא־יֵעֹרוּ מִשְּׁנָתָֽם׃

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 מִי יִתֵּן ׀ בִּשְׁאוֹל תַּצְפִּנֵנִי תַּסְתִּירֵנִי עַד־שׁוּב אַפֶּךָ תָּשִׁית לִי חֹק וְתִזְכְּרֵֽנִי׃ (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 אִם־יָמוּת גֶּבֶר הֲיִחְיֶה כָּל־יְמֵי צְבָאִי אֲיַחֵל עַד־בּוֹא חֲלִיפָתִֽי׃

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 תִּקְרָא וְאָנֹכִי אֶֽעֱנֶךָּ לְֽמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶיךָ תִכְסֹֽף׃

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

16 כִּֽי־עַתָּה צְעָדַי תִּסְפּוֹר לֹֽא־תִשְׁמוֹר עַל־חַטָּאתִֽי׃

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

17 חָתֻם בִּצְרוֹר פִּשְׁעִי וַתִּטְפֹּל עַל־עֲוֺנִֽי׃

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

18 וְאוּלָם הַר־נוֹפֵל יִבּוֹל וְצוּר יֶעְתַּק מִמְּקֹמֽוֹ׃

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

19 אֲבָנִים ׀ שָׁחֲקוּ מַיִם תִּשְׁטֹֽף־סְפִיחֶיהָ עֲפַר־אָרֶץ וְתִקְוַת אֱנוֹשׁ הֶאֱבַֽדְתָּ׃

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

20 תִּתְקְפֵהוּ לָנֶצַח וַֽיַּהֲלֹךְ מְשַׁנֶּה פָנָיו וַֽתְּשַׁלְּחֵֽהוּ׃

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

21 יִכְבְּדוּ בָנָיו וְלֹא יֵדָע וְיִצְעֲרוּ וְֽלֹא־יָבִין לָֽמוֹ׃

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

22 אַךְ־בְּשָׂרוֹ עָלָיו יִכְאָב וְנַפְשׁוֹ עָלָיו תֶּאֱבָֽל׃

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