Job Acknowledges the Finality of Death
1 “Man, who is born of woman,
is few of days and full of trouble.
2 He comes forth like a flower, then fades away.
He also flees like a shadow and vanishes away.
3 Do you open your eyes on such a one and bring me into judgment with you?
4 Who can make a clean thing out of an unclean?
Not one.
5 Since man’s days are determined,
the number of his months is with you,
and you have appointed his limits, that he cannot pass.
6 Look away from him, that he may rest,
so he can enjoy his day like a hired man.
7 For there is hope for a tree: if it is cut down,
it will sprout again.
Its tender shoots will not cease.
8 Though its root grows old in the earth,
and its stock dies in the ground,
9 yet through the scent of water it will bud,
and sprout boughs like a plant.
10 But man dies and is laid low.
Yes, man gives up the spirit, and where is he?
11 As the waters fail from the sea
and the river wastes and dries up,
12 so man lies down and does not rise.
Until the heavens are no more,
they will not awake,
nor be roused from their sleep.
13 Oh that you would hide me in Sheol,
that you would keep me secret until your wrath is past,
that you would appoint me a set time and remember me!
14 If a man dies, will he live again?
All the days of my appointed time, I will wait,
until my change comes.
15 You would call, and I would answer you.
You would have a desire for the work of your hands.
16 But now you count my steps.
Do you not watch over my sin?
17 My disobedience is sealed up in a bag.
You fasten up my iniquity.
18 But the mountain falling comes to nothing.
The rock is removed from its place.
19 The waters wear the stones.
The torrents of it wash away the dust of the earth.
So you destroy the hope of man.
20 You forever prevail against him, and he departs.
You change his face and send him away.
21 His sons come to honor, and he does not know it.
They are brought low, but he is not aware of it.
22 But his flesh feels pain,
and his soul within him mourns.”