Job 14

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

Man [that 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 cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

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

And dost thou open thy eyes upon such one, and bring me into judgment with thee?

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 thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

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

Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, 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 of a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender branch will not cease.

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

Though its root shall become old in the earth, and its stock die 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 bring forth 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 dieth, and wasteth away: yes, man yieldeth his breath, 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 flood decayeth and drieth 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 lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens [shall be] no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised 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)

O that thou wouldst hide me in the grave, that thou wouldst keep me secret, until thy wrath is past, that thou wouldst 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 dieth, shall he live [again]? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change shall come.

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

Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thy hands.

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

For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not 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 transgression [is] sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up my iniquity.

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

And surely the mountain falling cometh to naught, and 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: thou washest away the things which grow [out] of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest 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;

Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest 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 knoweth [it] not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth [it] not of them.

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

But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.