The Book of Job

Man that is borne of woman, is of short continuance, and full of trouble.

He shooteth foorth as a flowre, and is cut downe: he vanisheth also as a shadowe, and continueth not.

And yet thou openest thine eyes vpon such one, and causest me to enter into iudgement with thee.

Who can bring a cleane thing out of filthinesse? there is not one.

Are not his dayes determined? the nober of his moneths are with thee: thou hast appointed his boundes, which he can not passe.

Turne from him that he may cease vntill his desired day, as an hyreling.

For there is hope of a tree, if it bee cut downe, that it will yet sproute, and the branches thereof will not cease.

Though the roote of it waxe olde in the earth, and the stocke thereof be dead in ye ground,

Yet by the sent of water it will bud, and bring foorth boughes like a plant.

But man is sicke, and dyeth, and man perisheth, and where is he?

As the waters passe from the sea, and as the flood decayeth and dryeth vp,

So man sleepeth and riseth not: for hee shall not wake againe, nor be raised from his sleepe till the heauen be no more.

Oh that thou wouldest hide me in the graue, and keepe me secret, vntill thy wrath were past, and wouldest giue me terme, and remember me.

If a man die, shall he liue againe? All the dayes of mine appointed time will I waite, till my changing shall come.

Thou shalt call me, and I shall answere thee: thou louest the worke of thine own hands.

But nowe thou nombrest my steppes, and doest not delay my sinnes.

Mine iniquitie is sealed vp, as in a bagge, and thou addest vnto my wickednesse.

And surely as the mountaine that falleth, commeth to nought, and the rocke that is remooued from his place:

As the water breaketh the stones, when thou ouerflowest the things which growe in the dust of ye earth: so thou destroyest ye hope of man.

Thou preuailest alway against him, so that he passeth away: he changeth his face when thou castest him away.

And he knoweth not if his sonnes shall be honourable, neither shall he vnderstand concerning them, whether they shalbe of lowe degree,

But while his flesh is vpon him, he shall be sorowfull, and while his soule is in him, it shall mourne.

“Man, who is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.

He grows up like a flower, and is cut down. He also flees like a shadow, and doesn’t continue.

Do you open your eyes on such a one, and bring me into judgment with you?

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one.

Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his bounds that he can’t pass.

Look away from him, that he may rest, until he accomplishes, as a hireling, his day.

“For there is hope for a tree if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, that the tender branch of it will not cease.

Though its root grows old in the earth, and its stock dies in the ground,

yet through the scent of water it will bud, and sprout boughs like a plant.

But man dies, and is laid low. Yes, man gives up the spirit, and where is he?

As the waters fail from the sea, and the river wastes and dries up,

so man lies down and doesn’t rise. Until the heavens are no more, they will not awake, nor be roused out of their sleep.

“Oh that you would hide me in Sheol,(a) that you would keep me secret until your wrath is past, that you would appoint me a set time and remember me!

If a man dies, will he live again? I would wait all the days of my warfare, until my release should come.

You would call, and I would answer you. You would have a desire for the work of your hands.

But now you count my steps. Don’t you watch over my sin?

My disobedience is sealed up in a bag. You fasten up my iniquity.

“But the mountain falling comes to nothing. The rock is removed out of its place.

The waters wear the stones. The torrents of it wash away the dust of the earth. So you destroy the hope of man.

You forever prevail against him, and he departs. You change his face, and send him away.

His sons come to honor, and he doesn’t know it. They are brought low, but he doesn’t perceive it of them.

But his flesh on him has pain, and his soul within him mourns.”

(a)14:13 Sheol is the place of the dead.