Job 14

Life Is Short and Fragile

1 “Man born of a woman got a short life, and it is full of drama.

2 He like a flower that pops up and then withers, like a shadow that disappears quick.

3 And You, God, You still got Your eyes locked on somebody like that, You drag me into court,

4 Who can bring something clean outta something dirty, Nobody.

5 You already set how long we live, the number of our days is written down. We cannot go past it.

6 So back off a little, let us breathe, let us finish our shift like a hired worker.”

Hope Compared to a Tree

7 “See, for a tree there is hope. If it gets cut down, it can sprout again, and new shoots will not stop growing.

8 Even if its roots grow old in the ground and the stump dies in the dirt,

9 Just a little water makes it bud again, it puts out branches like it is brand new.

10 But a man, He dies, weak, breath gone, and where he at,

11 Like water evaporates from a lake and rivers dry up,

12 So a man lays down and do not rise again. Until the heavens fall, he will not wake up, will not get up from his sleep.”

Job Pleads for God to Hide Him

13 “Oh, if only You would hide me in the grave, stash me away until Your anger cools off. Set me a time and then remember me.

14 If a man dies, will he live again, All the days of my service I would wait, until You finally call me out.

15 You would call, and I would answer. You would long to see what Your hands made.

16 But now You count every step I take, watching all my sins.

17 My offenses are sealed up in a bag, You got my guilt locked tight.”

The Hopelessness of Man

18 “But like mountains crumble and fall, and rocks get moved from their place,

19 Like water wears down stones and floods wash away the dirt, so You destroy man’s hope.

20 You overpower him forever and he has gone. You change his face, then send him away.

21 His kids might rise to honor, but he does not know it. Or they might fall into disgrace, and he still do not see it.

22 All he feels is his own pain, all he mourns is his own sorrow.”