Job 14:16–20

16 Surely then you will count my steps

but not keep track of my sin.

17 My offenses will be sealed up in a bag;

you will cover over my sin.

18 “But as a mountain erodes and crumbles

and as a rock is moved from its place,

19 as water wears away stones

and torrents wash away the soil,

so you destroy a person’s hope.

20 You overpower them once for all, and they are gone;

you change their countenance and send them away.

16 For now thou numberest my steps:

Dost thou not watch over my sin?

17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag,

And thou sewest up mine iniquity.

18 And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought,

And the rock is removed out of his place.

19 The 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.

20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth:

Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.

16 For then you would guard my steps,

instead of watching for my sins.

17 My sins would be sealed in a pouch,

and you would cover my guilt.

18 “But instead, as mountains fall and crumble

and as rocks fall from a cliff,

19 as water wears away the stones

and floods wash away the soil,

so you destroy people’s hope.

20 You always overpower them, and they pass from the scene.

You disfigure them in death and send them away.

16 For now You number my steps,

But do not watch over my sin.

17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag,

And You cover my iniquity.

18 “But as a mountain falls and crumbles away,

And as a rock is moved from its place;

19 As water wears away stones,

And as torrents wash away the soil of the earth;

So You destroy the hope of man.

20 You prevail forever against him, and he passes on;

You change his countenance and send him away.

16 Then you will count my steps,

but you will not keep track of my sin.

17 My wrongs will be closed up in a bag,

and you will cover up my sin.

18 “A mountain washes away and crumbles;

and a rock can be moved from its place.

19 Water washes over stones and wears them down,

and rushing waters wash away the dirt.

In the same way, you destroy hope.

20 You defeat people forever, and they are gone;

you change their appearance and send them away.

16 But now thou numberest my steps:

Dost thou not watch over my sin?

17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag,

And thou fastenest up mine iniquity.

18 But the mountain falling cometh to nought;

And the rock is removed out of its place;

19 The waters wear the stones;

The overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth:

So thou destroyest the hope of man.

20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth;

Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.

16 For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin? 17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou heapest up mine iniquity. 18 And indeed a mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of its place; 19 The waters wear the stones, the floods thereof wash away the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man. 20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth away; thou changest his countenance, and dismissest him.

16 Though now you count my steps, 

you will not keep ⸤a record of⸥ my sins. 

17 My disobedience will be closed up in a bag, 

and you will cover over my sins. 

18 As surely as a mountain falls 

and rocks are dislodged, 

19 ⸤so⸥ water wears away stone, 

floods wash away soil from the land, 

and you destroy a mortal’s hope. 

20 You overpower him forever, and he passes away. 

You change his appearance and send him away. 

16 For then You would count my steps

but would not take note 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.

20 You completely overpower him, and he passes on;

You change his appearance and send him away.

16 For then you would not number my steps;

you would not keep watch over my sin;

17 my transgression would be sealed up in a bag,

and you would cover over my iniquity.

18 “But the mountain falls and crumbles away,

and the rock is removed from its place;

19 the waters wear away the stones;

the torrents wash away the soil of the earth;

so you destroy the hope of mortals.

20 You prevail forever against them, and they pass away;

you change their countenance and send them away.

16 For then 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 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 you destroy the hope of human beings.

20 You overpower him forever, and he passes away;

you change his countenance, then you send him away.

16 Then you will count every step I take.

But you won’t keep track of my sin.

17 The wrong things I’ve done will be sealed up in a bag.

You will wipe out my sins by forgiving them.

18 “A mountain wears away and crumbles.

A rock is moved from its place.

19 Water wears stones away.

Storms wash soil away.

In the same way, you destroy our hope.

20 You overpower us completely, and then we’re gone.

You change the way we look and send us to our graves.

16 “For now You number my steps,

You do not observe my sin.

17 “My transgression is sealed up in a bag,

And You wrap up my iniquity.

18 “But the falling mountain 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 destroy man’s hope.

20 “You forever overpower him and he departs;

You change his appearance and send him away.