Open English Translation JOB Chapter 14

14 Humans, born from women,

live relatively short lives with lots of turmoil.

2 People appear and then wither, just like the flowers.

≈They don’t stay around, but rush away like shadows.

3 Do you watch over even creatures like this?

Do you bring me in to be judged?

4 Who can make something innocent out of something impure?

No one.

5 Since a person’s lifespan is already determined,

≈then you already know the number of months.

You’ve set the limit and we won’t live past that.

6 Stop watching us.

Give us relief so we can take some pleasure in our daily work.

7 There’s even hope for a tree that gets cut down.

It will sprout again and its new shoots won’t fail.

8 Even when its roots in the ground get old,

≈and its base is rotting in the soil,

9 when it detects water it’ll send up branches like a young plant.

10 But a person dies and is laid out—

≈a person breathes their last and now where are they?

11 The water disappears from a lake,

≈and the river level goes down then dries up.

12 So too people lie down and don’t get up again.

≈They won’t wake up until the sky no longer exists.

≈For now they can’t be roused out of their sleep.

13 If only you’d allow me to be hidden in the grave,

that you’d conceal me until your anger is passed.

but set a limit and then remember me.

14 If a person dies, will they ever live again.

I’ll keep doing my work here until I’m released from it.

15 You’ll call me and I’ll answer you.

You’ll desire the creature you’ve made.

16 Now you’ll count my steps.

You won’t keep watch on my sins.

17 My disobedience would be sealed up in a bag,

≈and you’d plaster over my wickedness.

18 But mountains fall and crumble,

≈and rocks move out of their places.

19 Flowing water wears down stones,

≈and its torrents wash away the soil.

You destroy humankind’s hope.

20 You’re forever overpowering us and we depart.

You are changing the expression on our faces and sending us away.

21 If our children achieved some honour, we wouldn’t even know it.

Or if they’re put to shame, we wouldn’t be there to see it.

22 Only our own bodies feel the pain.

≈Only our inner selves mourn.