Job 14

1 Anyone born of woman

is short of days and full of trouble.  * 14:1 Jb 5:7; 15:35; Is 59:4

2 He blossoms like a flower, then withers;  * 14:2 Ps 103:15–16; Is 40:6–7; Jms 1:10–11

he flees like a shadow and does not last.

3 Do you really take notice of one like this?

Will you bring me into judgment against you?  * 14:3 LXX, Syr, Vg read him,* 14:3 Jb 22:4; Ps 143:2; 144:3

4 Who can produce something pure from what is impure?

No one!

5 Since a person’s days are determined

and the number of his months depends on you,

and since you have set  * 14:5 Lit set his  limits he cannot pass,  * 14:5 Jb 21:21; Ps 39:4; 90:12

6 look away from him and let him rest

so that he can enjoy his day like a hired worker.  * 14:6 Jb 7:16; 10:20; Ps 39:13

7 There is hope for a tree:

If it is cut down, it will sprout again,

and its shoots will not die.

8 If its roots grow old in the ground

and its stump starts to die in the soil,

9 the scent of water makes it thrive

and produce twigs like a sapling.  * 14:9 Jb 29:19; Ps 1:3; Jr 17:8

10 But a person dies and fades away;

he breathes his last — where is he?

11 As water disappears from a lake

and a river becomes parched and dry,

12 so people lie down never to rise again.

They will not wake up until the heavens are no more;  * 14:12 Is 51:6; Rv 20:11; 21:1

they will not stir from their sleep.

13 If only you would hide me in Sheol  * 14:13 Jb 11:8; 17:16; Am 9:2

and conceal me until your anger  * 14:13 Jb 16:9; 19:11; Ps 30:5  passes.

If only you would appoint a time for me

and then remember me.

14 When a person dies, will he come back to life?

If so, I would wait  * 14:14 Jb 6:8; 13:13; 35:14 all the days of my struggle  * 14:14 Jb 7:1; Is 40:2

until my relief comes.

15 You would call, and I would answer you.

You would long for the work of your hands.  * 14:15 Jb 9:16; 10:3; 13:22

16 For then you would count my steps  * 14:16 Jb 10:6; 31:4; 34:21

but would not take note  * 14:16 Jb 10:14; 33:11; Ps 130:3  of my sin.

17 My rebellion would be sealed up in a bag,

and you would cover over my iniquity.

18 But as a mountain collapses and crumbles

and a rock is dislodged from its place,

19 as water wears away stones

and torrents wash away the soil from the land,

so you destroy a man’s hope.  * 14:19 Jb 7:6; 17:15; 19:10

20 You completely overpower him, and he passes on;

you change his appearance and send him away.

21 If his sons receive honor, he does not know it;

if they become insignificant, he is unaware of it.  * 14:21 Jb 21:21; Ec 9:5; Is 63:16

22 He feels only the pain of his own body

and mourns only for himself.