(KJV) Job 14¹

⥃Job Laments the Finality of Death

[1] Man [that is] born² of a woman [is] of few days³, and full⁴ of trouble. [2] He cometh forth like⁵ a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth⁶ also as a shadow, and continueth not. [3] And dost⁷ thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest⁸ me into judgment with thee? [4] Who can bring⁹ a clean¹⁰ [thing] out of an unclean? not one. [5] Seeing his days¹¹ [are] determined, the number¹² of his months [are] with thee, thou hast¹³ appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; [6] Turn¹⁴ from him, that he may rest¹⁵, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling¹⁶, his day. [7] For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout¹⁷ again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. [8] Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground¹⁸; [9] [Yet] through the scent of water it will bud, and bring¹⁹ forth boughs like a plant. [10] But man dieth, and wasteth away²⁰: yea, man²¹ giveth up the ghost, and where [is] he²²? [11] [As] the waters fail from the sea, and the flood²³ decayeth and drieth up: [12] So man²⁴ lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens²⁵ [be] no more, they shall not awake²⁶, nor be raised out of their sleep. [13] O that thou wouldest hide me²⁷ in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until²⁸ thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me²⁹ a set time, and remember³⁰ me! [14] If a man die, shall he live³¹ [again]? all the days³² of my appointed time will I wait³³, till my change come. [15] Thou shalt call³⁴, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have³⁵ a desire to the work of thine hands. [16] For now thou numberest³⁶ my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin? [17] My transgression [is] sealed up³⁷ in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity. [18] And surely the mountain³⁸ falling cometh to nought³⁹, and the rock⁴⁰ is removed out of his place. [19] The waters⁴¹ wear the stones: thou washest⁴² away the things which grow [out] of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest⁴³ the hope of man. [20] Thou prevailest⁴⁴ for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest⁴⁵ his countenance, and sendest him away. [21] His sons come to honour, and he knoweth [it] not⁴⁶; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth [it] not of them. [22] But his flesh⁴⁷ upon him shall have pain, and his soul⁴⁸ within him shall mourn.