Job Laments the Finality of Death 1 CPDV Man, born of woman, living for a short time, is filled with many miseries. BSB BSB: “Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.
2 CPDV He comes forth like a flower, and is crushed, and he flees, as if a shadow, and never remains in the same state. BSB BSB: Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.
3 CPDV And do you consider it fitting to look down with your eyes on someone in this way and to lead him into judgment with you? BSB BSB: Do You open Your eyes to one like this? Will You bring him into judgment before You?
4 CPDV Who can make him clean who is conceived of unclean seed? Are you not the only one who can? BSB BSB: Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!
5 CPDV The days of man are short, and the number of his months is with you; you have determined his limits, which cannot be surpassed. 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 CPDV Withdraw a little from him, so that he may rest, until his awaited day arrives, like that of the hired hand. BSB BSB: look away from him and let him rest, so he can enjoy his day as a hired hand.
7 CPDV A tree has hope: if it has been cut, it turns green again, and its branches spring forth. 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 CPDV If its roots grow old in the earth, and its trunk passes into dust, BSB BSB: If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil,
9 CPDV at the scent of water, it will sprout and bring forth leaves, as when it had first been planted. BSB BSB: at the scent of water it will bud and put forth twigs like a sapling.
10 CPDV Truly, when a man dies, and has been left unprotected, and has decayed, I ask you where is he? BSB BSB: But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?
11 CPDV It is as if the waters had receded from the sea and an emptied river had dried up; BSB BSB: As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry,
12 CPDV just so, when a man is fallen asleep, he will not rise again, until the heavens are worn away; he will not awaken, nor rise from his 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 CPDV Who will grant this to me, that you will protect me in the underworld, and hide me until your fury passes by, and establish a time for me, in which you will 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 CPDV Do you suppose that a dead man will live again? On each of the days in which I now battle, I wait until my transformation occurs. 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 CPDV You will call me and I will answer you; to the work of your hands, you will extend your right hand. BSB BSB: You will call, and I will answer; You will desire the work of Your hands.
16 CPDV Indeed, you have numbered my steps, but you have been lenient with my sins. BSB BSB: For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.
17 CPDV You have sealed up my offenses, as if in a purse, but you have cured my iniquity. BSB BSB: My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.
18 CPDV A falling mountain flows away, and a stone is transferred from its place. BSB BSB: But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,
19 CPDV Waters wear away stones, and with a flood the land is reduced little by little; and similarly, you will destroy man. BSB BSB: as water wears away the stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy a man’s hope.
20 CPDV You have strengthened him for a little while, so that he may cross over into eternity. You will change his face and send him forth. BSB BSB: You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.
21 CPDV Whether his sons have been noble or ignoble, he will not understand. BSB BSB: If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware.
22 CPDV And in this way his body, while he yet lives, will have grief, and his soul will mourn over himself. BSB BSB: He feels only the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.”
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