Job 14

Chapter 14

1“Man, who is born of woman, Is short-lived and full of turmoil.

2Like a flower he comes out and withers.
He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.

3You also open Your eyes on him
And bring him into judgment with Yourself.

4Who can make the clean out of the unclean?
No one!

5Since his days are determined,
The number of his months is with You;
And You have set his limits so that he cannot pass.

6Look away from him so that he may rest,
Until he fulfills his day like a hired worker.

7“For there is hope for a tree,
When it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
And its shoots won’t fail.

8Though its roots grow old in the ground,
And its stump dies in the dry soil,

9At the scent of water it will flourish
And produce sprigs like a plant.

10But a man dies and lies prostrate.
A person passes away, and where is he?

11As water evaporates from the sea,
And a river becomes parched and dried up,

12So a man lies down and does not rise.
Until the heavens no longer exist,
He won’t awake nor be woken from his sleep.

13“Oh that You would hide me in Sheol,
That You would conceal me until Your wrath returns to You,
That You would set a limit for me and remember me!

14If a man dies, will he live again?
All the days of my struggle I will wait
Until my relief comes.

15You will call, and I will answer You;
You will long for the work of Your hands.

16For now You number my steps,
You don’t observe my sin.

17My wrongdoing is sealed up in a bag,
And You cover over my guilt.

18“But the falling mountain crumbles away,
And the rock moves from its place;

19Water wears away stones,
Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth;
So You destroy a man’s hope.

20You forever overpower him and he departs;
You change his appearance and send him away.

21His sons achieve honor, but he does not know it;
Or they become insignificant, and he does not perceive it.

22However, his body pains him,
And his soul mourns for himself.”