Job 14

¹Man, born of woman! Of few days, and full of trouble! ²As a flower he hath gone forth, and is cut off, And he fleeth as a shadow and standeth not. ³Also—on this Thou hast opened Thine eyes, And dost bring me into judgment with Thee. ⁴Who giveth a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. ⁵If determined are his days, The number of his months are with Thee, His limit Thou hast made, And he passeth not over; ⁶Look away from off him that he may cease, Till he enjoy as an hireling his day.

⁷For there is of a tree hope, if it be cut down, That again it doth change, That its tender branch doth not cease. ⁸If its root becometh old in the earth, And its stem doth die in the dust, ⁹From the fragrance of water it doth flourish, And hath made a crop as a plant. ¹⁰And a man dieth, and becometh weak, And man expireth, and where is he? ¹¹Waters have gone away from a sea, And a river becometh waste and dry. ¹²And man hath lain down, and riseth not, Till the wearing out of the heavens they awake not, Nor are roused from their sleep. ¹³O that in Sheol Thou wouldest conceal me, Hide me till the turning of Thine anger, Set for me a limit, and remember me. ¹⁴If a man dieth—doth he revive? All days of my warfare I wait, till my change come. ¹⁵Thou dost call, and I—I answer Thee; To the work of Thy hands Thou hast desire.

¹⁶But now, my steps Thou numberest, Thou dost not watch over my sin. ¹⁷Sealed up in a bag is my transgression, And Thou sewest up mine iniquity. ¹⁸And yet, a falling mountain wasteth away, And a rock is removed from its place. ¹⁹Stones have waters worn away, Their outpourings wash away the dust of earth, And the hope of man Thou hast destroyed. ²⁰Thou prevailest over him for ever, and he goeth, He is changing his countenance, And Thou sendest him away. ²¹Honoured are his sons, and he knoweth not; And they are little, and he attendeth not to them. ²²Only—his flesh for him is pained, And his soul for him doth mourn.’

Chapter 15