Job 14

Job Continues to Argue His Case with God

1 "A human being born of a woman

is short of days and full of troubles.*Literally "trouble"

2 Like a flower he comes up, and he withers away;

and he flees like a*Or "the" shadow, but*Hebrew "and" he does not last.

3 Even on such a one you fix your eyes,

and you bring me into judgment with you.

4 "Who can bring a clean thing from an unclean thing?

No one!*Or "Not one"

5 If his days are determined, the number of his months is with you;

you have appointed his boundaries, and he cannot cross them.

6 Look away from him, and let him desist

until he enjoys his days like a laborer.

7 "Indeed, there is hope for a tree:

if it is cut down, then*Hebrew "and" it will sprout again,

and its new shoots will not cease;

8 though its root grows old in the earth,

and its stump dies in the dust,

9 at*Hebrew "from" the scent of water it will bud,

and it will put forth branches like a young plant.

10 "But*Hebrew "And" a man dies, and he dwindles away;

thus*Hebrew "And" a human being passes away, and where is he?*Or "where is he then?"

11 As water disappears from a lake,

and a river withers away and dries up,*Or "it dries up"

12 so*Literally "and" a man lies down, and he does not arise.

Until the heavens are no more,*Literally "Until not heavens" they will not awaken,

and they will not be roused out of their sleep.

13 "O that*Literally "Who shall give" you would conceal me in Sheol,

that you would hide me until your wrath is past,*Literally "until the return of your nose"

that you would appoint a set time for me and remember me.

14 If a man dies, will he live again?

All the days of my compulsory service I will wait,

until the coming of my relief.

15 You would call, and I myself*Emphatic personal pronoun would answer you;

you would long for the work of your hand.

16 For then*Hebrew "now" you would count my steps,

but you would not keep watch over my sin.

17 My transgression would be sealed in a bag,

and you would cover over my guilt.

18 "But*Or "And but" a mountain falls; it crumbles away,

and a rock moves away from its place.

19 Water wears away stones;

its torrents wash away the soil of the earth;

so*Hebrew "and" you destroy the hope of human beings.

20 You overpower him forever, and he passes away;

you change his countenance,*Literally "his faces" then*Hebrew "and" you send him away.

21 His children may come to honor, but*Hebrew "and" he does not know it;

or*Hebrew "and" they may become lowly, but*Hebrew "and" he does not realize it.*Or "them"

22 He feels only the pain of his own body,*Hebrew "his body on him"

and his inner self*Or "soul" mourns for him."*Or "for himself"