Job 14:1-8

1 "All of us born to women live only a few days and have lots of trouble.
2 We grow up like flowers and then dry up and die. We are like a passing shadow that does not last.
3 Lord, do you need to watch me like this? Must you bring me before you to be judged?
4 No one can bring something clean from something dirty.
5 Our time is limited. You have given us only so many months to live and have set limits we cannot go beyond.
6 So look away from us and leave us alone until we put in our time like a laborer.
7 "If a tree is cut down, there is hope that it will grow again and will send out new branches.
8 Even if its roots grow old in the ground, and its stump dies in the dirt,

Job 14:1-8 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 New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.