Job 14

Job Speaks of the Finality of Death

1“1Man, who is born of woman, Is 2short-lived and 3full of turmoil.24Like a flower he comes out and withers. He also flees like 5a shadow and does not remain.3You also 6open Your eyes on him And 7bring 8him into judgment with Yourself.49Who can make the clean out of the unclean? No one!5Since his days are determined, The 10number of his months is with You; And You have 11set his limits so that he cannot pass.612Look away from him so that he may 13rest, Until he 14fulfills his day like a hired worker.

7“For there is hope for a tree, When it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And its shoots will not 15fail.8Though its roots grow old in the ground, And its stump dies in the dry soil,9At the scent of water it will flourish And produce sprigs like a plant.10But 16a man dies and lies prostrate. A person 17passes away, and where is he?11As 18water 19evaporates from the sea, And a river becomes parched and dried up,12So 20a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens no longer exist, 21He will not awake nor be woken from 22his sleep.

13“Oh that You would hide me in 23Sheol, That You would conceal me 24until Your wrath returns to You, That You would set a limit for me and remember me!14If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my relief comes.15You will call, and I will answer You; You will long for 25the work of Your hands.16For now You 26number my steps, You do not 27observe my sin.17My wrongdoing is 28sealed up in a bag, And You cover over my 29guilt.

18“But the falling mountain 30crumbles away, And the rock moves from its place;19Water wears away stones, Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth; So You 31destroy a man’s hope.20You forever overpower him and he 32departs; You change his appearance and send him away.21His sons achieve honor, but 33he does not know it; Or they become insignificant, and he does not perceive it.22However, his 34body pains him, And his soul mourns for himself.”