WEB

Job 14

Having demanded his day in court, Job sinks into a meditation on human mortality. Man, "born of a woman," lives few days and full of trouble, growing like a flower only to be cut down (v.1-2). Job pleads that God simply look away and let a worn-out man rest like a hired laborer (v.6). The reading hinges on a comparison: a felled tree can sprout again at the scent of water, but does man? This is among the book's most tender and despairing passages.

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Job 14 (WEB)

1
“Man, who is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.
2
He grows up like a flower, and is cut down. He also flees like a shadow, and doesn’t continue.
3
Do you open your eyes on such a one, and bring me into judgment with you?
4
Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one.
5
Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his bounds that he can’t pass.
6
Look away from him, that he may rest, until he accomplishes, as a hireling, his day.
7
“For there is hope for a tree if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, that the tender branch of it will not cease.
8
Though its root grows old in the earth, and its stock dies in the ground,
9
yet through the scent of water it will bud, and sprout boughs like a plant.
10
But man dies, and is laid low. Yes, man gives up the spirit, and where is he?
11
As the waters fail from the sea, and the river wastes and dries up,
12
so man lies down and doesn’t rise. Until the heavens are no more, they will not awake, nor be roused out of their sleep.
13
“Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would keep me secret until your wrath is past, that you would appoint me a set time and remember me!
14
If a man dies, will he live again? I would wait all the days of my warfare, until my release should come.
15
You would call, and I would answer you. You would have a desire for the work of your hands.
16
But now you count my steps. Don’t you watch over my sin?
17
My disobedience is sealed up in a bag. You fasten up my iniquity.
18
“But the mountain falling comes to nothing. The rock is removed out of its place.
19
The waters wear the stones. The torrents of it wash away the dust of the earth. So you destroy the hope of man.
20
You forever prevail against him, and he departs. You change his face, and send him away.
21
His sons come to honor, and he doesn’t know it. They are brought low, but he doesn’t perceive it of them.
22
But his flesh on him has pain, and his soul within him mourns.”

Jó 14 (WPB)

1
“O homem, nascido de mulher, vive poucos dias e é cheio de aflição.
2
Ele cresce como uma flor, e é cortado. Ele também foge como uma sombra, e não permanece.
3
Você abre os seus olhos sobre alguém assim, e me traz a julgamento com você?
4
Quem pode tirar algo puro do impuro? Ninguém.
5
Visto que os seus dias estão determinados, o número dos seus meses está com você, e você estabeleceu os seus limites, que ele não pode ultrapassar.
6
Desvie dele o olhar, para que ele possa descansar, até que ele cumpra, como um trabalhador contratado, o seu dia.
7
“Pois há esperança para uma árvore se ela for cortada, de que brotará novamente, e de que os seus ramos tenros não cessarão.
8
Embora a sua raiz envelheça na terra, e o seu tronco morra no chão,
9
ainda assim, ao cheiro das águas, ela brotará, e dará ramos como uma planta.
10
Mas o homem morre, e é abatido. Sim, o homem entrega o espírito, e onde ele está?
11
Assim como as águas desaparecem do mar, e o rio se esgota e seca,
12
assim o homem se deita e não se levanta. Até que os céus já não existam, eles não acordarão, nem serão despertados do seu sono.
13
“Quem dera você me escondesse no Seol, que você me mantivesse em segredo até que a sua ira passasse, que você me marcasse um tempo determinado e se lembrasse de mim!
14
Se um homem morrer, ele viverá novamente? Eu esperaria todos os dias do meu combate, até que chegasse a minha libertação.
15
Você chamaria, e eu lhe responderia. Você teria desejo pela obra das suas mãos.
16
Mas agora você conta os meus passos. Você não vigia o meu pecado?
17
A minha desobediência está selada em uma bolsa. Você amarra a minha iniquidade.
18
“Mas a montanha que cai se desfaz em nada. A rocha é removida do seu lugar.
19
As águas desgastam as pedras. As suas torrentes levam o pó da terra. Assim você destrói a esperança do homem.
20
Você prevalece contra ele para sempre, e ele se vai. Você muda o seu semblante, e o manda embora.
21
Os seus filhos alcançam honra, e ele não sabe disso. Eles são humilhados, mas ele não percebe.
22
Mas a sua própria carne sente dor, e a sua alma dentro dele lamenta.”

The question the book keeps asking

"If a man dies, will he live again?" (v.14). Job almost dares to hope: he imagines being hidden in Sheol until God's anger passes, then called back, with God longing for the work of his own hands (v.13-15).

But the hope collapses. As water wears away stone and torrents wash off the soil, "so you destroy the hope of man" (v.18-19). The chapter ends in grief: the dead man does not even know whether his sons rise to honor or are brought low (v.21).

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How Job speaks about suffering, protest, patience, limits, and the danger of shallow explanations.

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