28 A person wears out like something rotten,
like a moth-eaten garment.(A)

14 Anyone born of woman
is short of days and full of trouble.(B)
He blossoms like a flower, then withers;(C)
he flees like a shadow and does not last.
Do you really take notice of one like this?
Will you bring me into judgment against you?[a](D)
Who can produce something pure from what is impure?
No one!
Since a person’s days are determined
and the number of his months depends on you,
and since you have set[b] limits he cannot pass,(E)
look away from him and let him rest
so that he can enjoy his day like a hired worker.(F)

Footnotes

  1. 14:3 LXX, Syr, Vg read him
  2. 14:5 Lit set his

28 So I’m a man who wears out like something rotten,
    like a garment that has become moth-eaten.”

Human Beings Live and Die

14 Human beings born by women
    are short-lived[a] and full of trouble.
He springs up[b] like a flower and then withers.[c]
    Like a shadow, he disappears[d] and doesn’t last.
Indeed, have you opened your eyes on one like this—
    to bring me into a legal fight with you?
Who can produce a clean thing from an unclean thing?
    No one!
Since his days have been determined,
    the number of his months is known to you.
You’ve set his limit
    and he cannot exceed it.
Look away from him and leave him alone,
    so he can enjoy his time, like a hired worker.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 14:1 Lit. is of short days
  2. Job 14:2 Lit. goes out
  3. Job 14:2 Lit. is cut off
  4. Job 14:2 Lit. flees