Job Laments the Finality of Death

1Man that is borne of woman, is of short continuance, and full of trouble.

2He shooteth foorth as a flowre, and is cut downe: he vanisheth also as a shadowe, and continueth not.

3And yet thou openest thine eyes vpon such one, and causest me to enter into iudgement with thee.

4Who can bring a cleane thing out of filthinesse? there is not one.

5Are not his dayes determined? the nober of his moneths are with thee: thou hast appointed his boundes, which he can not passe.

6Turne from him that he may cease vntill his desired day, as an hyreling.

7For there is hope of a tree, if it bee cut downe, that it will yet sproute, and the branches thereof will not cease.

8Though the roote of it waxe olde in the earth, & the stocke thereof be dead in ye ground,

9Yet by the sent of water it will bud, and bring foorth boughes like a plant.

10But man is sicke, and dyeth, and man perisheth, and where is he?

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

12So man sleepeth and riseth not: for hee shall not wake againe, nor be raised from his sleepe till the heauen be no more.

13Oh 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.

14If a man die, shall he liue againe? All the dayes of mine appointed time will I waite, till my changing shall come.

15Thou shalt call me, and I shall answere thee: thou louest the worke of thine own hands.

16But nowe thou nombrest my steppes, and doest not delay my sinnes.

17Mine iniquitie is sealed vp, as in a bagge, and thou addest vnto my wickednesse.

18And surely as the mountaine that falleth, commeth to nought, and the rocke that is remooued from his place:

19As 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.

20Thou preuailest alway against him, so that he passeth away: he changeth his face when thou castest him away.

21And he knoweth not if his sonnes shall be honourable, neither shall he vnderstand concerning them, whether they shalbe of lowe degree,

22But while his flesh is vpon him, he shall be sorowfull, and while his soule is in him, it shal mourne.