Job 14

Job Speaks of the Finality of Death

1 ^a“Man, who is born of woman,
Is ^{▼▼ Lit short of days}short-lived and ^cfull of turmoil.
2 ^d“Like a flower he comes forth and withers.
He also flees like ^ea shadow and does not remain.
3 “You also ^fopen Your eyes on him
And ^gbring ^{▼▼ So with some ancient versions; M.T. me}him into judgment with Yourself.
4 ⁱ“Who can make the clean out of the unclean?
No one!
5 “Since his days are determined,
The ^jnumber of his months is with You;
And his limits You have ^{▼▼ Lit made}set so that he cannot pass.
6 ^l“Turn Your gaze from him that he may ^{▼▼ Lit cease}rest,
Until he ^{▼▼ Lit makes acceptable}fulfills his day like a hired man.

7 “For there is hope for a tree,
When it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
And its shoots will not ^{▼▼ Or cease}fail.
8 “Though its roots grow old in the ground
And its stump dies in the dry soil,
9 At the scent of water it will flourish
And put forth sprigs like a plant.
10 “But ^pman dies and lies prostrate.
Man ^qexpires, and where is he?
11 “As ^rwater ^{▼▼ Lit disappears}evaporates from the sea,
And a river becomes parched and dried up,
12 So ^tman lies down and does not rise.
Until the heavens are no longer,
^{▼▼ Lit They}He will not awake nor be aroused out of ^{▼▼ Lit their}his sleep.

13 “Oh that You would hide me in ^{▼▼ I.e. the nether world}Sheol,
That You would conceal me ^xuntil Your wrath returns to You,
That You would set a limit for me and remember me!
14 “If a man dies, will he live again?
All the days of my struggle I will wait
Until my change comes.
15 “You will call, and I will answer You;
You will long for ^ythe work of Your hands.
16 “For now You ^znumber my steps,
You do not ^aaobserve my sin.
17 “My transgression is ^absealed up in a bag,
And You ^{▼▼ Lit plaster; or glue together}wrap up my iniquity.

18 “But the falling mountain ^{▼▼ Lit withers}crumbles away,
And the rock moves from its place;
19 Water wears away stones,
Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth;
So You ^aedestroy man’s hope.
20 “You forever overpower him and he ^afdeparts;
You change his appearance and send him away.
21 “His sons achieve honor, but ^aghe does not know it;
Or they become insignificant, but he does not perceive it.
22 “But his ^{▼▼ Lit flesh}body pains him,
And he mourns only for himself.”