Job 14

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1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days,

and full of trouble.

2 He cometh forth like a flower,

and is cut down:

he fleeth also as a shadow,

and continueth not.

3 And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one,

and bringest me into judgment with thee?

4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?

not one.

5 Seeing his days are determined,

the number of his months are with thee,

thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

6 Turn from him,

that he may rest,

till he shall accomplish,

as an hireling,

his day.

7 For there is hope of a tree,

if it be cut down,

that it will sprout again,

and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth,

and the stock thereof die in the ground;

9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud,

and bring forth boughs like a plant.

10 But man dieth,

and wasteth away:

yea, man giveth up the ghost,

and where is he?

11 As the waters fail from the sea,

and the flood decayeth and drieth up:

12 So man lieth down,

and riseth not:

till the heavens be no more,

they shall not awake,

nor be raised out of their sleep.

13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave,

that thou wouldest keep me secret,

until thy wrath be past,

that thou wouldest appoint me a set time,

and remember me!

14 If a man die,

shall he live again?

all the days of my appointed time will I wait,

till my change come.

15 Thou shalt call,

and I will answer thee:

thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

16 For now thou numberest my steps:

dost thou not watch over my sin?

17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag,

and thou sewest up mine iniquity.

18 And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought,

and the rock is removed out of his place.

19 The waters wear the stones:

thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth;

and thou destroyest the hope of man.

20 Thou prevailest for ever against him,

and he passeth:

thou changest his countenance,

and sendest him away.

21 His sons come to honour,

and he knoweth it not;

and they are brought low,

but he perceiveth it not of them.

22 But his flesh upon him shall have pain,

and his soul within him shall mourn.

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