Job 14

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

“Man, who is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.

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

He grows up like a flower, and is cut down. He also flees like a shadow, and doesn’t continue.

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

Do you open your eyes on such a one, and bring me into judgment with you?

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

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one.

5 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].

Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his bounds that he can’t pass.

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

Look away from him, that he may rest, until he accomplishes, as a hireling, his day.

7 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.

“For there is hope for a tree if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, that the tender branch of it will not cease.

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

Though its root grows old in the earth, and its stock dies in the ground,

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

yet through the scent of water it will bud, and sprout boughs like a plant.

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

But man dies, and is laid low. Yes, man gives up the spirit, and where is he?

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

As the waters fail from the sea, and the river wastes and dries up,

12 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.

so man lies down and doesn’t rise. Until the heavens are no more, they will not awake, nor be roused out of their sleep.

13 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)

“Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would keep me secret until your wrath is past, that you would appoint me a set time and remember me! (Sheol h7585)

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

If a man dies, will he live again? I would wait all the days of my warfare, until my release should come.

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

You would call, and I would answer you. You would have a desire for the work of your hands.

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

But now you count my steps. Don’t you watch over my sin?

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

My disobedience is sealed up in a bag. You fasten up my iniquity.

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

“But the mountain falling comes to nothing. The rock is removed out of its place.

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

The waters wear the stones. The torrents of it wash away the dust of the earth. So you destroy the hope of man.

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

You forever prevail against him, and he departs. You change his face, and send him away.

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

His sons come to honor, and he doesn’t know it. They are brought low, but he doesn’t perceive it of them.

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

But his flesh on him has pain, and his soul within him mourns.”