Job 14

LEB(i) 1 "A human being born of a woman is short of days and full of troubles.* 2 Like a flower he comes up, and he withers away; and he flees like a* shadow, but* he does not last. 3 Even on such a one you fix your eyes, and you bring me into judgment with you. 4 "Who can bring a clean thing from an unclean thing? No one!* 5 If his days are determined, the number of his months is with you; you have appointed his boundaries, and he cannot cross them. 6 Look away from him, and let him desist until he enjoys his days like a laborer. 7 "Indeed, there is hope for a tree: if it is cut down, then* it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not cease; 8 though its root grows old in the earth, and its stump dies in the dust, 9 at* the scent of water it will bud, and it will put forth branches like a young plant. 10 "But* a man dies, and he dwindles away; thus* a human being passes away, and where is he?* 11 As water disappears from a lake, and a river withers away and dries up,* 12 so* a man lies down, and he does not arise. Until the heavens are no more,* they will not awaken, and they will not be roused out of their sleep. 13 "O that* you would conceal me in Sheol, that you would hide me until your wrath is past,* that you would appoint a set time for me and remember me. 14 If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my compulsory service I will wait, until the coming of my relief. 15 You would call, and I myself* would answer you; you would long for the work of your hand. 16 For then* you would count my steps, but you would not keep watch over my sin. 17 My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and you would cover over my guilt. 18 "But* a mountain falls; it crumbles away, and a rock moves away from its place. 19 Water wears away stones; its torrents wash away the soil of the earth; so* you destroy the hope of human beings. 20 You overpower him forever, and he passes away; you change his countenance,* then* you send him away. 21 His children may come to honor, but* he does not know it; or* they may become lowly, but* he does not realize it.* 22 He feels only the pain of his own body,* and his inner self* mourns for him."*