Job 14

1 “Man [the human, mortal], who is born [brought forth, begotten] of woman [a female, wife], is short [of few days, brief] of days [time, lifespan] and full [sated, filled] of trouble [turmoil, commotion]. word study 2 Like a flower [bright, gleaming, or blossoming], he comes forth [emerges, goes out], then withers away [is cut down, languishes]; like a fleeting [passing, transient] shadow [dark area, shade], he does not [never] endure [stand, continue]. word study 3 Do You open [with observation and awareness] Your eyes [the source of Your attention] to one like this [such a one, a person in a specific situation]? Will You bring [cause to come, lead] him into judgment [a place of justice] before You [in Your presence, with You]? word study 4 Who [can cause something to happen, is able] can bring out [produce, give] clean [pure, morally upright] from unclean [impure, sinful, tainted with evil]? No one [not a single person, no human being]! word study 5 Since his days [determined, appointed] are determined and the number [quantity, count] of his months [lunar cycles, new moons] is with You [in Your presence, under Your care], and since You have set [established, ordained] limits [boundaries, statutes] that he cannot [is unable to, will not] exceed [pass over, transgress], word study 6 look away [turn from, depart] from him and let him rest [cease, stop], so he can enjoy [have pleasure, be pleased] his day [desired time, appointed season] as a hired hand [hireling, laborer, like a servant working for payment]. word study 7 For there is [a strong expectation, a cord of hope] hope for a tree [a tree; wood, timber, a plank]: If it is cut down [destroyed, severed], it will sprout again [grow new shoots, come to life], and its tender shoots [young branches, new growth] will not fail [cease, come to an end]. word study 8 If its roots [the underground part of a plant, foundation] grow old [become aged, wax old] in the ground [land, earth, soil] and its stump [trunk, stock] dies [comes to an end, perishes] in the soil [dust, dry earth, ground], word study 9 at the scent [aroma, fragrance] of water [source of refreshment] it will bud [sprout, flourish] and put forth twigs [boughs, branches] like [similar to, comparable with] a sapling [young plant, plantation]. word study 10 But a man [great man] dies [to die, either literally or as a punishment] and is laid low [becomes weak, decays, or wastes away]; he breathes his last [gives up the ghost, expires, or yields his breath], and where [in what location, or what place] is he [the man, or Adam, the first human]? word study 11 As water [from the sea, like the Mediterranean] disappears [fails, evaporates] from the sea [a large body of water, the west] and a river [a flood] becomes [wastes, decays] parched [dry, desolate] and dry [withers, dried up], word study 12 so a man [human being, mortal] lies down [to rest, to sleep] and does not rise [will not get up, remains fallen]. Until the heavens [the sky, the universe] are no more [cease to exist, pass away], he will not be awakened [roused, stirred] or roused [stirred, awakened] from sleep [a state of unconsciousness, death]. word study 13 If only You would hide me [conceal, keep secret] in Sheol [the underworld, grave] and conceal me [treasure, store] until Your anger [wrath] has passed [turned back, returned]! If only You would appoint [set, place] a time [statute, decree] for me and then remember me [recall, mark]! word study 14 When a man [a great man] dies [passes away, perishes], will he live [revive, be quickened] again? All [every, the entirety of] the days [periods of time, epochs] of my hard [appointed, warfare] service [time of trouble] I will wait [be patient, trust], until my renewal [change, release] comes [arrives, is fulfilled]. word study 15 You will call [to summon, to invite], and I will answer [respond, sing, make music]; You will desire [long for, yearn to see] the work [deed, action, labor] of Your hands [power, strength, direction]. word study 16 For [because of this reason] then You would count [number, keep track of] my steps [path of life, pace], but would not [no, none] keep track of [watch over, guard] my sin [guilt, rebellion, punishment for sin]. word study 17 My [sealed up, corded] transgression [rebellion, revolt] would be sealed [fastened, locked] in a bag [bundle, package], and You would cover [smear, conceal] over my iniquity [moral evil, sin]. word study 18 But [however, in contrast] as a mountain [a hill] erodes [crumbles, falls] and crumbles [wastes away, comes to nought] and a rock [a boulder, God as a refuge] is dislodged [removed, moved] from its place [location, position], word study 19 as water [the source of refreshment] wears away the stones [rocks, weights, or precious gems] and torrents [overflowings, strong flows] wash away the soil [dust, dry earth], so You destroy [perish, lose] a man’s [human, mankind] hope [cord, expectancy, waiting]. word study 20 You forever [for all eternity, perpetually] overpower [prevail against, overcome] him, and he passes on [goes away, departs]; You change [alter, transform] his countenance [face, appearance] and send [dismiss, cast away] him away [from your presence, into death]. word study 21 If his sons [children, descendants] receive honor [are glorified, esteemed], he does not know [is unaware, lacks understanding] it; if they are brought low [are humbled, made insignificant], he is unaware [does not perceive, lacks discernment]. word study 22 He feels [exclusively] only the pain [suffering, grief, or distress] of his own body [flesh, physical form] and mourns [is sorrowful, lamenting] only [exclusively, solely] for himself [his own soul, being].” word study