Job 14:7-22

7“For there is hope for a tree, When it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And its shoots will not 1fail.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 2a man dies and lies prostrate. A person 3passes away, and where is he?11As 4water 5evaporates from the sea, And a river becomes parched and dried up,12So 6a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens no longer exist, 7He will not awake nor be woken from 8his sleep.

13“Oh that You would hide me in 9Sheol, That You would conceal me 10until 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 11the work of Your hands.16For now You 12number my steps, You do not 13observe my sin.17My wrongdoing is 14sealed up in a bag, And You cover over my 15guilt.

18“But the falling mountain 16crumbles away, And the rock moves from its place;19Water wears away stones, Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth; So You 17destroy a man’s hope.20You forever overpower him and he 18departs; You change his appearance and send him away.21His sons achieve honor, but 19he does not know it; Or they become insignificant, and he does not perceive it.22However, his 20body pains him, And his soul mourns for himself.”