Job Acknowledges the Finality of Death

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

2He comes forth like a flower, and is cut down: he flees also as a shadow, and continues not.

3And does you open your eyes on such an one, and bring me into judgment with you?

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

5Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with you, you have appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

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

7For 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.

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

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

10But man dies, and wastes away: yes, man gives up the ghost, and where is he?

11As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decays and dries up:

12So man lies down, and rises not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

13O that you would hide me in the grave, that you would keep me secret, until your wrath be past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!

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

15You shall call, and I will answer you: you will have a desire to the work of your hands.

16For now you number my steps: do you not watch over my sin?

17My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and you sew up my iniquity.

18And surely the mountains falling comes to nothing, and the rock is removed out of his place.

19The waters wear the stones: you wash away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and you destroy the hope of man.

20You prevail for ever against him, and he passes: you change his countenance, and send him away.

21His sons come to honor, and he knows it not; and they are brought low, but he perceives it not of them.

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