| Chapter 14 |
1 | Man, born of woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.
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2 | He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; and he fleeth as a shadow, and continueth not.
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3 | Yet dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
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4 | Who can bring a clean [man] out of the unclean? Not one!
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5 | If his days are determined, if the number of his months is with thee, [and] thou hast appointed his bounds which he must not pass,
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6 | Look away from him; and let him rest, till he accomplish, as a hireling, his day.
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7 | For there is hope for a tree: if it be cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender branch will not cease;
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8 | Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stock die in the ground,
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9 | Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and put forth boughs like a young plant.
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10 | But a man dieth, and is prostrate; yea, man expireth, and where is he?
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11 | The waters recede from the lake, and the river wasteth and drieth up:
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12 | So man lieth down, and riseth not again; till the heavens be no more, they do not awake, nor are raised out of their sleep.
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13 | Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, that thou wouldest keep me secret until thine anger be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me, --
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14 | (If a man die, shall he live [again]?) all the days of my time of toil would I wait, till my change should come:
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15 | Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee; thou wouldest have a desire after the work of thy hands.
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16 | For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
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17 | My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou heapest up mine iniquity.
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18 | And indeed a mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of its place;
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19 | The waters wear the stones, the floods thereof wash away the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.
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20 | Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth away; thou changest his countenance, and dismissest him.
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21 | His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, and he perceiveth it not.
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22 | But his flesh hath pain for himself alone, and his soul mourneth for himself.
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