Job 14

Job Laments the Finality of Death

1 “Man, who is born of woman, ‡ Job 5:7Ecc 2:23Job 25:4Job 7:1Mat 11:11Job 15:14Job 7:6Job 9:25 +4

is short of days and full of trouble.

2 Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; ‡ Isa 40:6-81Pe 1:24Job 8:9Psa 103:15-161Ch 29:15Jas 4:14Jas 1:10-11Psa 144:4 +6

like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.

3 Do You open Your eyes to one like this? ‡ Psa 144:3Psa 143:2Psa 8:4Job 13:25Job 13:27Job 7:17-18Job 9:19-20Job 9:32 +1

Will You bring him into judgment before You?

4 Who can bring out clean from unclean? ‡ Jhn 3:6Job 15:14Eph 2:3Rom 8:8-9Job 25:4-6Luk 1:35Psa 51:5Rom 5:12 +2

No one!

5 Since his days are determined ‡ Psa 39:4Act 17:26Job 12:10Heb 9:27Psa 104:29Dan 5:26Job 21:21Luk 12:20 +10

and the number of his months is with You,

and since You have set limits

that he cannot exceed,

6 look away from him and let him rest, ‡ Job 7:19Psa 39:13Job 7:1-2Job 10:20Job 7:16Mat 20:1-8

so he can enjoy his day as a hired hand.

7 For there is hope for a tree: ‡ Isa 27:6Isa 11:1Job 14:14Dan 4:23-25Job 19:10Dan 4:15

If it is cut down, it will sprout again,

and its tender shoots will not fail.

8 If its roots grow old in the ground ‡ 1Co 15:36Isa 26:19Jhn 12:24

and its stump dies in the soil,

9 at the scent of water it will bud ‡ Rom 11:17-24Ezk 17:22-24Ezk 17:3-10Ezk 19:10

and put forth twigs like a sapling.

10 But a man dies and is laid low; ‡ Job 19:26Gen 49:33Job 7:7-10Pro 14:32Act 5:10Job 11:20Job 14:12Job 17:13-16 +4

he breathes his last, and where is he?

11 As water disappears from the sea ‡ Isa 19:5Jer 15:18Job 6:15-18

and a river becomes parched and dry,

12 so a man lies down ‡ Job 10:21-22Ecc 3:19-21Isa 26:19Job 3:132Pe 3:10-132Pe 3:7Job 30:231Th 4:14-15 +15

and does not rise.

Until the heavens are no more,

he will not be awakened or roused from sleep.

13 If only You would hide me in Sheol ‡ Isa 26:20-21Isa 57:1-2Mrk 13:32Act 1:7Act 17:31Gen 8:1Isa 12:1Job 3:17-19 +2

and conceal me until Your anger has passed!

If only You would appoint a time for me

and then remember me!

14 When a man dies, will he live again? ‡ 1Co 15:51-52Act 26:8Job 7:1Psa 27:14Jhn 5:28-29Job 13:15Job 14:5Php 3:21 +10

All the days of my hard service I will wait,

until my renewal ¹comes.

15 You will call, and I will answer; ‡ Job 13:22Psa 138:81Pe 4:19Job 10:3Job 10:8Job 7:211Jn 2:281Th 4:17 +1

You will desire the work of Your hands.

16 For then You would count my steps, ‡ Job 10:6Job 31:4Job 34:21Pro 5:21Psa 139:1-4Jer 32:19Job 33:11Job 13:27 +2

but would not keep track of my sin.

17 My transgression would be sealed in a bag, ‡ Deu 32:34Hos 13:12Job 21:19

and You would cover over my iniquity.

18 But as a mountain erodes and crumbles ‡ Rev 6:14Job 18:4Jer 4:24Isa 40:12Isa 41:15-16Isa 54:10Isa 64:1Mat 27:51 +3

and a rock is dislodged from its place,

19 as water wears away the stones ‡ Job 19:10Job 27:8Job 7:6Ezk 37:11Gen 6:17Gen 7:21-23Luk 12:19-20Psa 30:6-7

and torrents wash away the soil,

so You destroy a man’s hope.

20 You forever overpower him, and he passes on; ‡ Ecc 8:8Job 14:14Job 2:12Lam 4:8

You change his countenance and send him away.

21 If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; ‡ Ecc 9:5Ecc 2:18-19Isa 63:161Sa 4:20Isa 39:7-8Psa 39:6

if they are brought low, he is unaware.

22 He feels only the pain of his own body ‡ Job 19:26Job 19:20Job 19:22Job 33:19-21Luk 16:23-24Pro 14:32

and mourns only for himself.”