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Job

Explores the themes of suffering and faith through the story of Job, a man tested by losing everything.

Chapter 14

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1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

*A person born from a mother lives a short life and experiences many problems.

2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

*He appears like a blossom, then gets cut down: he also runs like a shadow and doesn't last.

3 And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?

*And do you open your eyes to someone like that, and then bring me to court with you?

4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

*Who can make something pure from something impure? Nobody.

5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

*God has set a limit on how long a person will live, and the number of months they will have is decided by Him. He has established boundaries that a person cannot cross.

6 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.

*Move away from him to let him relax until he finishes his work as a temporary worker.

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.

*If a tree gets cut down, it can grow back, and its young branches won't stop growing.

8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;

*Even if the plant's roots get old on the ground and its main stem dies in the soil,

9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.

*Even though it's just water smell, it will grow and produce branches like a normal plant.

10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?

*But people die and fade away; yes, they stop breathing and disappear - where are they then?

11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:

*As the water disappears from the sea, and the flood weakens and dries 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.

*So a person lies down and doesn't get up again; until the sky no longer exists, they won't wake up or be freed from 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!

*Oh, please hide me in the grave where no one can see me, until your anger is over. Then, remember me and set a specific time for me.

14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

*Will a person come back to life after dying? I will patiently wait for my scheduled time until my change occurs.

15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

*You shall call, and I will respond: you will have a desire for the work of your hands.

16 For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?

*Right now, you count my steps. Don't you also watch over my mistakes?

17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.

*My wrongdoing is hidden in a sack, and you hide my sinfulness too.

18 And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.

*And indeed, when a mountain crumbles, it disappears, and a rock gets moved from its spot.

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.

*The water erodes rocks: you wash away things that come from the dirt on the ground; and you take away people's hopes.

20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.

*You always win against him and he goes away; you change his appearance and send him off.

21 His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

*His children become successful, but he doesn't realize it. And when they face troubles, he also doesn't notice their struggles.

22 But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.

*But he will hurt all over, and his inner self will be sad.

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