Job Laments the Finality of Death 1 ULT Man, born of woman— few of days and full of trouble! BSB BSB: “Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.
2 ULT Like a flower, he comes forth and withers, and like a shadow, he flees and does not stand. BSB BSB: Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.
3 ULT Even on such do you open your eye, and do you bring me into judgment with you? BSB BSB: Do You open Your eyes to one like this? Will You bring him into judgment before You?
4 ULT Who will bring clean from unclean? Not one! BSB BSB: Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!
5 ULT Since his days are determined, the number of his months{ is} with you; you have set his limit and he will not pass{ 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 ULT look away from him, that he may desist until he fulfills his day like a hireling. BSB BSB: look away from him and let him rest, so he can enjoy his day as a hired hand.
7 ULT For there is hope for a tree if it is cut down, that it will sprout again and its stalk will not cease. 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 ULT Though its root grows old in the earth and its stump dies in the ground, BSB BSB: If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil,
9 ULT from the scent of waters it will bud and make a branch like a plant. BSB BSB: at the scent of water it will bud and put forth twigs like a sapling.
10 ULT But a man dies, and a man weakens and expires, and where{ is} he? BSB BSB: But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?
11 ULT Waters disappear from a lake and a river dwindles and dries up, BSB BSB: As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry,
12 ULT and a man lies down and does not arise. Until the heavens{ are} no more, they will not awake and they will not be roused 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 ULT Who will give{ that} you will conceal me in Sheol,{ that} you will hide me until the turning of your nose,{ that} you will set a limit for me and 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 ULT If a man dies, will he live? All the days of my hardship I will wait until the coming of my change. 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 ULT You would call, and I would answer you. You would desire the work of your hands. BSB BSB: You will call, and I will answer; You will desire the work of Your hands.
16 ULT For then you would number my steps; you would not watch over my sin. BSB BSB: For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.
17 ULT My transgression{ would be} sealed in a bag, and you would plaster over my iniquity. BSB BSB: My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.
18 ULT However, a falling mountain crumbles, and a rock moves from its place, BSB BSB: But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,
19 ULT waters wear down stones, its flooding washes away the dust of the earth, and you destroy 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 ULT You forever overpower him, and he goes away; changing his face, you send him away. BSB BSB: You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.
21 ULT His sons achieve honor and he does not know, or they become insignificant and he does not perceive them. BSB BSB: If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware.
22 ULT Only his flesh grieves for him, and{ only} his soul mourns for him.” BSB BSB: He feels only the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.”
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