Job 14

Job meditates on the frailty of man, born of woman and full of trouble like a flower that is cut down. He observes that a tree has hope if cut down, but when a man dies he lies down and rises not, and he longs for God to hide him in the grave until His wrath is past.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.	"Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
2	He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.	He comes forth like a flower, and is cut down; he flees also as a shadow, and does not continue.
3	And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?	And do you open your eyes on such a one, and bring me into judgment with you?
4	Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.	Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one.
5	Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;	Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with you, you have appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
6	Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.	turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.
7	For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.	For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch of it will not cease.
8	Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;	Though its root grows old in the earth, and the stock of it die in the ground,
9	Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.	yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.
10	But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?	But man dies, and wastes away; yes, man gives up the ghost, and where is he?
11	As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:	As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decays and dries up,
12	So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.	so man lies down, and rises not; till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
13	O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!	O that you would hide me in the grave, that you would keep me secret, until your wrath be past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
14	If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.	If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
15	Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.	You shall call, and I will answer you; you will have a desire to the work of your hands.
16	For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?	For now you number my steps; do you not watch over my sin?
17	My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.	My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and you sew up my iniquity.
18	And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.	And surely the mountain falling comes to nothing, and the rock is removed out of his place.
19	The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.	The waters wear the stones; you wash away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and you destroy the hope of man.
20	Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.	You prevail for ever against him, and he passes; you change his countenance, and send him away.
21	His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.	His sons come to honour, and he does not know it; and they are brought low, but he does not see it of them.
22	He feeleth only the pain of his own flesh upon him, and his soul within him shall mourn.	He feels only the pain of his own flesh on him, and his soul within him shall mourn."