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Job Laments the Finality of Death

¹ Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.² Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.³ Do You open your eyes to one like this? Will You bring him into judgment before You?⁴ Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!⁵ 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 look away from him and let him rest, so he can enjoy his day as a hired hand.

⁷ For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail.⁸ If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil,⁹ at the scent of water it will bud and put forth twigs like a sapling.¹⁰ But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?¹¹ As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry,¹² so man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, he will not be awakened or roused from sleep.¹³ If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger passes. If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me.¹⁴ When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my relief^(a) comes.¹⁵ You will call, and I will answer; You will desire the work of Your hands.

¹⁶ For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.¹⁷ My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.¹⁸ But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,¹⁹ as water wears away stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy a man’s hope.²⁰ You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.²¹ If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware.²² He feels only the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.”