Job 14
Job Speaks to the Finality of Death
or
Till Death
based on Job 14
so he lies down and does not rise
Job 14:12
Job 14:12
Born of woman, is man with a limited span,
but a lifetime of trouble and pain.
He will blossom one day and then wither away;
like a shadow that does not remain.
Must you open your eyes on a thing so despised;
and demand an accounting be had?
Can unclean create clean? There is no in-between,
for we cannot produce good from bad.
All the days that you give for the time that we live
have been set — and they cannot increase.
Can you not turn aside — let us simply abide?
Let us finish our labor in peace!
There’s more hope to be held for a tree that is felled:
it at least has a chance of rebirth!
Though its roots will be found growing old in the ground,
and the tree’s stump decays in the earth,
yet the slightest of smells of mere water compels
it to grow like it once grew before.
But when people have passed, and a man breathes his last,
where is he — when that man is no more?
As the lake and stream die and the river runs dry,
so a man lays down never to rise.
Till the heavens are gone, neither breath will be drawn
nor from sleep will he open his eyes.
Won't you hide me and save me, concealed in the grave
till your anger has raged to its end?
Lest you'd ever forget, in your calendar set
a reminder to think of me then.
Can the dead come to life? If so, all of this strife
would be worth it to wait for my turn.
I would answer your call, but I think best of all,
for the work of your hand you would yearn.
You'd count strides as I run, not the sins that I've done —
which you've covered and sealed in a bag.
But as mountains erode and the landslides explode
and as rocks from the cliff form the crag;
from the streams, stones are worn; from the floods, earth is torn;
so destroyed is man's hopeful last breath.
Overpowered, they're gone — they have finally passed on,
with their faces disfigured in death.
Were their children made great, they could not celebrate;
if brought low, they could never defend.
Because all that remains are their physical pains,
and they mourn for themselves to the end.
but a lifetime of trouble and pain.
He will blossom one day and then wither away;
like a shadow that does not remain.
Must you open your eyes on a thing so despised;
and demand an accounting be had?
Can unclean create clean? There is no in-between,
for we cannot produce good from bad.
All the days that you give for the time that we live
have been set — and they cannot increase.
Can you not turn aside — let us simply abide?
Let us finish our labor in peace!
There’s more hope to be held for a tree that is felled:
it at least has a chance of rebirth!
Though its roots will be found growing old in the ground,
and the tree’s stump decays in the earth,
yet the slightest of smells of mere water compels
it to grow like it once grew before.
But when people have passed, and a man breathes his last,
where is he — when that man is no more?
As the lake and stream die and the river runs dry,
so a man lays down never to rise.
Till the heavens are gone, neither breath will be drawn
nor from sleep will he open his eyes.
Won't you hide me and save me, concealed in the grave
till your anger has raged to its end?
Lest you'd ever forget, in your calendar set
a reminder to think of me then.
Can the dead come to life? If so, all of this strife
would be worth it to wait for my turn.
I would answer your call, but I think best of all,
for the work of your hand you would yearn.
You'd count strides as I run, not the sins that I've done —
which you've covered and sealed in a bag.
But as mountains erode and the landslides explode
and as rocks from the cliff form the crag;
from the streams, stones are worn; from the floods, earth is torn;
so destroyed is man's hopeful last breath.
Overpowered, they're gone — they have finally passed on,
with their faces disfigured in death.
Were their children made great, they could not celebrate;
if brought low, they could never defend.
Because all that remains are their physical pains,
and they mourn for themselves to the end.
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