Job 14

1Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.footnote a

2He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

3And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?

4Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.footnote b

5Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

6Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.footnote c

7For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

8Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;

9Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.

10But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?footnote d

11As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:

12So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

13O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

14If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

15Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

16For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?

17My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.

18And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.footnote e

19The 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.footnote f

20Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.

21His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

22But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.

Job Laments the Finality of Death

1“Man, who is born of woman,is short of days and full of trouble. 2Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away;like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure. 3Do You open Your eyes to one like this?Will You bring him into judgment before You? 4Who can bring out clean from unclean?No one! 5Since his days are determinedand the number of his months is with You,and since You have set limitsthat he cannot exceed, 6look away from him and let him rest,so he can enjoy his day as a hired hand.

7For there is hope for a tree:If it is cut down, it will sprout again,and its tender shoots will not fail. 8If its roots grow old in the groundand its stump dies in the soil, 9at the scent of water it will budand put forth twigs like a sapling. 10But a man dies and is laid low;he breathes his last, and where is he? 11As water disappears from the seaand a river becomes parched and dry, 12so a man lies downand does not rise.Until the heavens are no more,he will not be awakened or roused from sleep.

13If only You would hide me in Sheoland conceal me until Your anger has passed!If only You would appoint a time for meand then remember me! 14When a man dies, will he live again?All the days of my hard service I will wait,until my renewalfootnote acomes. 15You will call, and I will answer;You will desire the work of Your hands. 16For then You would count my steps,but would not keep track of my sin. 17My transgression would be sealed in a bag,and You would cover over my iniquity.

18But as a mountain erodes and crumblesand a rock is dislodged from its place, 19as water wears away the stonesand torrents wash away the soil,so You destroy a man’s hope. 20You forever overpower him, and he passes on;You change his countenance and send him away. 21If his sons receive honor, he does not know it;if they are brought low, he is unaware. 22He feels only the pain of his own bodyand mourns only for himself.”