Job Laments the Finality of Death

1Man that is borne of woman, hath but a short time to lyue, and is full of miserie.

2He commeth vp, and is cut downe like a floure: He fleeth as it were a shadow, and neuer continueth in one state.

3Doest thou open thyne eyes vpon such one, and bringest me into thy iudgement?

4Who can make it cleane that commeth of an vncleane thing? no bodye.

5The dayes of man surely are determined, the number of his monethes are knowen onely vnto thee, thou hast appoynted him his bondes which he can not go beyonde.

6Go from him, that he may rest vntill his day come which he loketh for, lyke as an hireling doth.

7For if a tree be cut downe, there is some hope yet that it wyll sproute and shoote foorth the braunches againe.

8Though the roote of it be waxen olde, and the stocke thereof be dead in the grounde:

9Yet when it getteth the sent of water, it wyll budde and bring foorth bowes, lyke as a tree that is planted.

10But as for man, when he is dead, perished, and consumed away, what becommeth of him?

11As the waters passe from the sea, and as the flood decayeth and dryeth vp:

12So man after he is asleepe ryseth not, he shall not wake tyll the heauens be no more, nor rise out of his sleepe.

13O that thou wouldest hide me in the graue, & keepe me secret vntyl thy wrath were past, and to appoynt me a time wherein thou mightest remember me.

14May a dead man lyue againe? All the dayes of my lyfe wyll I wayte still, till my chaunging shall come.

15Thou shalt call me and I shall aunswere thee, despise not thou the worke of thyne owne handes.

16For now thou numbrest all my goinges, and geuest no delay vnto my sinne.

17Myne iniquitie is sealed vp as it were in a bagge, and thou addest punishement vnto my wickednesse.

18The mountaines fal away at the last, the rockes are remoued out of their place.

19The waters pearse through the very stones by litle & litle, the floodes washe away the grauell and earth: so shalt thou destroy the hope of man.

20Thou preuaylest still against him, so that he passeth away: thou chaungest his estate and puttest him from thee.

21And whether his children come to worship or no, he can not tell: And if they be men of lowe degree, he knoweth not.

22But while his fleshe is vpon him, it must haue sorowe: and his soule shall mourne within him.