Job 14:8-18

8 Even though its roots grow old, and its stump dies in the ground,
9 with water it will sprout like a young plant.
10 But we die, and that is the end of us; we die, and where are we then?
11 Like rivers that stop running, and lakes that go dry,
12 people die, never to rise. They will never wake up while the sky endures; they will never stir from their sleep.
13 I wish you would hide me in the world of the dead; let me be hidden until your anger is over, and then set a time to remember me.
14 If a man dies, can he come back to life? But I will wait for better times, wait till this time of trouble is ended.
15 Then you will call, and I will answer, and you will be pleased with me, your creature.
16 Then you will watch every step I take, but you will not keep track of my sins.
17 You will forgive them and put them away; you will wipe out all the wrongs I have done.
18 There comes a time when mountains fall and solid cliffs are moved away.

Job 14:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 14

Job, having turned himself from his friends to God, continues his address to him in this chapter; wherein he discourses of the frailty of man, the shortness of his life, the troubles that are in it, the sinfulness of it, and its limited duration, beyond which it cannot continue; all which he makes use of with God, that he would not therefore deal rigorously with him, but have pity on him, and cease from severely afflicting him, till he came to the end of his days, which could not be long, Job 14:1-6; he observes of a tree, when it is cut down to the root, yea, when the root is become old, and the stock dies, it will, by means of being watered, bud and sprout again, and produce boughs and branches; but man, like the failing waters of the sea, and the decayed and dried up flood, when he dies, rises not, till the heavens be no more, Job 14:7-12; and then he wishes to be hid in the grave till that time, and expresses hope and belief of the resurrection of the dead, Job 14:13-15; and goes on to complain of the strict notice God took of his sins, of his severe dealings with men, destroying their hope in life, and removing them by death; so that they see and know not the case and circumstances of their children they leave behind, and while they live have continual pain and sorrow, Job 14:16-22.

Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.