Job 14 Job pleads with God for the shortness and misery of human life

 Job 14

Job pleads with God for the shortness and misery of human life

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

2 He comes forth like a flower, and withers; he also flees like a shadow, and does not remain.

3 Yet you open your eyes upon such a one, and bring me into judgment with you.

4 Who can bring something clean out of an unclean? No one.

5 For his days are determined, the number of his months is with you; and you have set a limit for him, that he may not pass beyond them.

6 Turn away from him, that he may have rest, until he has contentment like a hired servant in his day.

7 For there is hope for a tree, that if it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its shoots will not cease.

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

9 At the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a plant. 

10 But when a man dies, he is consumed; if a man gives up the ghost, where is he? 

11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the river dries up and dries up. 

12 So man lies down and does not rise; until the heavens are no more he will not awake or arise from his sleep. 

13 Oh that you would hide me in the grave, that you would keep me secret until your anger turns away; that you would set a limit for me and remember me! 

14 If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait, until my change comes. 

15 You would call to me, and I would answer you: Have affection for the work of your hands. 

16 But now you count my steps; do you not watch over my sin?

17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and you heap up my iniquities.

18 Surely a mountain falls and is destroyed, and a rock is removed from its place.

19 Waters wear away the stones; torrents drown the dust of the earth; yet you destroy the hope of man.

20 You prevail against him forever, and he passes away; you change his face and send him away.

21 His children are honored, and he does not know it; they are diminished, and he does not perceive it.

22 But his flesh is in pain within him, and his soul mourns within him.