Job 14

Modern English Version

14 “Man who is born of a woman
    is of few days and full of trouble.
² He comes forth like a flower and withers;
    he flees like a shadow and does not continue.
³ Do You open Your eyes on such a one,
    and bring me into judgment with You?
⁴ Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?
    There is no one.
⁵ Seeing his days are determined,
    the number of his months are with You;
    You have appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
⁶ turn from him, that he may rest,
    until he, as a hired man, finishes his day.

⁷ “For there is hope for a tree,
    if it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
    and that its tender shoots will not cease.
⁸ Though its root may grow old in the earth,
    and its stump may die in the ground,
⁹ yet at the scent of water it will bud
    and bring forth boughs like a plant.
¹⁰ But man dies and wastes away;
    yes, man gives up his breath, and where is he?
¹¹ As the waters disappear from the sea,
    and the flood shrivels and dries up,
¹² so man lies down and does not rise;
    until the heavens are no more, he will not awake,
    nor be raised out of his sleep.

¹³ “Oh, that You would hide me in the grave,
    that You would conceal me until Your wrath is past,
that You would appoint me a set time
    and remember me!
¹⁴ If a man dies, will he live again?
    All the days of my service I will wait,
    until my relief comes.
¹⁵ You will call, and I will answer You;
    You will long for the work of Your hands.
¹⁶ For now You number my steps;
    do You not observe my sin?
¹⁷ My transgression is sealed up in a bag,
    and You plaster over my iniquity.

¹⁸ “Surely the mountain falling comes to nothing,
    and the rock is removed out of its place.
¹⁹ The waters wear away the stones;
    its overflow washes away the dust of the earth;
    and You destroy the hope of man.
²⁰ You prevail forever against him, and he passes on;
    changing his countenance, You send him away.
²¹ His sons come to honor, and he does not know it;
    and they are brought low, but he does not perceive it.
²² But his flesh on him will have pain,
    and his soul within him will mourn.”