Job Continues His Prayer
Life Is Short and Sorrowful
1 Life is short and sorrowful
for every living soul.
2 We are flowers that fade
and shadows that vanish.
3 And so, I ask you, God,
why pick on me?
4 There's no way a human
can be completely pure.
5 Our time on earth is brief;
the number of our days
is already decided by you.
6 Why don't you leave us alone
and let us find some happiness
while we toil and labor?
When a Tree Is Chopped Down
7 When a tree is chopped down,
there is always the hope
that it will sprout again.
8 Its roots and stump may rot,
9 but at the touch of water,
it sprouts once again.
10 Humans are different—
we die, and that's the end.
11 We are like streams and lakes
after the water has gone;
12 we fall into the sleep of death,
never to rise again,
until the sky disappears.
13 Please hide me, God,
deep in the ground—
and when you are angry no more,
remember to rescue me.
Will We Humans Live Again?
14 Will we humans live again?
I would gladly suffer
and wait for my time.
15 My Creator, you would want me;
you would call out,
and I would answer.
16 You would take care of me,
but not count my sins—
17 you would put them in a bag,
tie it tight,
and toss them away.
18 But in the real world,
mountains tumble,
and rocks crumble;
19 streams wear away stones
and wash away soil.
And you destroy our hopes!
20 You change the way we look,
then send us away,
wiped out forever.
21 We never live to know
if our children are praised
or disgraced.
22 We feel no pain but our own,
and when we mourn,
it's only for ourselves.
1 Man that is borne of woman, is of short continuance, and full of trouble. 2 He shooteth foorth as a flowre, and is cut downe: he vanisheth also as a shadowe, and continueth not. 3 And yet thou openest thine eyes vpon such one, and causest me to enter into iudgement with thee. 4 Who can bring a cleane thing out of filthinesse? there is not one. 5 Are not his dayes determined? the nober of his moneths are with thee: thou hast appointed his boundes, which he can not passe. 6 Turne from him that he may cease vntill his desired day, as an hyreling. 7 For there is hope of a tree, if it bee cut downe, that it will yet sproute, and the branches thereof will not cease. 8 Though the roote of it waxe olde in the earth, and the stocke thereof be dead in ye ground, 9 Yet by the sent of water it will bud, and bring foorth boughes like a plant. 10 But man is sicke, and dyeth, and man perisheth, and where is he? 11 As the waters passe from the sea, and as the flood decayeth and dryeth vp, 12 So man sleepeth and riseth not: for hee shall not wake againe, nor be raised from his sleepe till the heauen be no more. 13 Oh that thou wouldest hide me in the graue, and keepe me secret, vntill thy wrath were past, and wouldest giue me terme, and remember me. 14 If a man die, shall he liue againe? All the dayes of mine appointed time will I waite, till my changing shall come. 15 Thou shalt call me, and I shall answere thee: thou louest the worke of thine own hands. 16 But nowe thou nombrest my steppes, and doest not delay my sinnes. 17 Mine iniquitie is sealed vp, as in a bagge, and thou addest vnto my wickednesse. 18 And surely as the mountaine that falleth, commeth to nought, and the rocke that is remooued from his place: 19 As the water breaketh the stones, when thou ouerflowest the things which growe in the dust of ye earth: so thou destroyest ye hope of man. 20 Thou preuailest alway against him, so that he passeth away: he changeth his face when thou castest him away. 21 And he knoweth not if his sonnes shall be honourable, neither shall he vnderstand concerning them, whether they shalbe of lowe degree, 22 But while his flesh is vpon him, he shall be sorowfull, and while his soule is in him, it shall mourne.