Job Laments the Finality of Death 1 Brenton For a mortal born of a woman is short-lived, and full of wrath. BSB BSB: “Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.
2 Brenton Or he falls like a flower that has bloomed; and he departs like a shadow, and cannot continue. BSB BSB: Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.
3 Brenton Hast thou not taken account even of him, and caused him to enter into judgment before thee? BSB BSB: Do You open Your eyes to one like this? Will You bring him into judgment before You?
4 Brenton For who shall be pure from uncleanness? not even one; BSB BSB: Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!
5 Brenton if even his life should be but one day upon the earth: and his months are numbered by him: thou hast appointed him for a time, and he shall by no means exceed it . BSB BSB: Since his days are determined and the number of his months is with You, and since You have set limits that he cannot exceed,
6 Brenton Depart from him, that he may be quiet, and take pleasure in his life, though as a hireling. BSB BSB: look away from him and let him rest, so he can enjoy his day as a hired hand.
7 Brenton For there is hope for a tree, even if it should be cut down, that it shall blossom again, and its branch shall not fail. BSB BSB: For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail.
8 Brenton For though its root should grow old in the earth, and its stem die in the rock; BSB BSB: If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil,
9 Brenton it will blossom from the scent of water, and will produce a crop, as one newly planted. BSB BSB: at the scent of water it will bud and put forth twigs like a sapling.
10 Brenton But a man that has died is utterly gone; and when a mortal has fallen, he is no more. BSB BSB: But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?
11 Brenton For the sea wastes in length of time, and a river fails and is dried up. BSB BSB: As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry,
12 Brenton And man that has lain down in death shall certainly not rise again till the heaven be dissolved, and they shall not awake from their sleep. BSB BSB: so a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, he will not be awakened or roused from sleep.
13 Brenton For oh that thou hadst kept me in the grave, and hadst hidden me until thy wrath should cease, and thou shouldest set me a time in which thou wouldest remember me! BSB BSB: If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me!
14 Brenton For if a man should die, shall he live again , having accomplished the days of his life? I will wait till I exist again? BSB BSB: When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes.
15 Brenton Then shalt thou call, and I will hearken to thee: but do not thou reject the work of thine hands. BSB BSB: You will call, and I will answer; You will desire the work of Your hands.
16 Brenton But thou hast numbered my devices: and not one of my sins shall escape thee? BSB BSB: For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.
17 Brenton And thou hast sealed up my transgressions in a bag, and marked if I have been guilty of any transgression unawares. BSB BSB: My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.
18 Brenton And verily a mountain falling will utterly be destroyed, and a rock shall be worn out of its place. BSB BSB: But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,
19 Brenton The waters wear the stones, and waters falling headlong overflow a heap of the earth: and thou destroyest the hope of man. BSB BSB: as water wears away the stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy a man’s hope.
20 Brenton Thou drivest him to an end, and he is gone: thou settest thy face against him, and sendest him away; BSB BSB: You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.
21 Brenton and though his children be multiplied, he knows it not; and if they be few, he is not aware. BSB BSB: If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware.
22 Brenton But his flesh is in pain, and his soul mourns. BSB BSB: He feels only the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.”
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