The Book of Job

“Man, born of woman! Of few days, and full of trouble!

As a flower he has gone forth, and is cut off, || And he flees as a shadow and does not stand.

Also—on this You have opened Your eyes, and bring me into judgment with You.

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

If his days are determined, || The number of his months [are] with You, || You have made his limit, || And he does not pass over;

Look away from off him that he may cease, || Until he enjoy as a hired worker his day.

For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, || That it changes again, || That its tender branch does not cease.

If its root becomes old in the earth, || And its stem dies in the dust,

From the fragrance of water it flourishes, || And has made a crop as a plant.

And a man dies, and becomes weak, || And man expires, and where [is] he?

Waters have gone away from a sea, || And a river becomes waste and dry.

And man has lain down, and does not rise, || Until the wearing out of the heavens they do not awaken, || Nor are roused from their sleep.

O that You would conceal me in Sheol, || Hide me until the turning of Your anger, || Set a limit for me, and remember me.

If a man dies—does he revive? All [the] days of my warfare I wait, until my change comes.

You call, and I answer You; To the work of Your hands You have desire.

But now, You number my steps, || You do not watch over my sin.

My transgression [is] sealed up in a bag, and You sew up my iniquity.

And yet, a falling mountain wastes away, and a rock is removed from its place.

Waters have worn away stones, || Their outpourings wash away the dust of earth, || And You have destroyed the hope of man.

You prevail [over] him forever, and he goes, || He is changing his countenance, || And You send him away.

His sons are honored, and he does not know; And they are little, and he does not attend to them.

Only—his flesh is pained for him, || And his soul mourns for him.”

“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.