The Shortness of Human Life
Job 14
Job reflects that man born of woman is short-lived and full of trouble, appointed a fixed number of days he cannot exceed. He contrasts man's fate with a felled tree that may sprout again from the scent of water, lamenting that once a man dies he does not rise, and asks to be hidden in the grave until the Lord's wrath has passed.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonHE who is born of a woman waxeth old like a leathern bag: or like a garment which is moth-eaten; for he is mortal, short-lived and full of disquiet:
BrentonFor a mortal born of a woman is short-lived, and full of wrath.
GreekΒρότος γὰρ γεννητὸς γυναικὸς, ὀλιγόβιος, καὶ πλήρης ὀργῆς·
KJVMan that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
JPSMan that is born of a woman Is of few days, and full of trouble.
2
Thomsonor like a flower which fell when in bloom. He glideth away indeed like a shadow and can make no stay.
BrentonOr he falls like a flower that has bloomed; and he departs like a shadow, and cannot continue.
Greekἢ ὥσπερ ἄνθος ἀνθῆσαν ἐξέπεσεν, ἀπέδρα δὲ ὥσπερ σκιὰ, καὶ οὐ μὴ στῇ.
KJVHe cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
JPSHe cometh forth like a flower, and withereth; He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
3
ThomsonAnd is it not such a one Thou hast called to account; and caused such a one to come to trial before Thee?
BrentonHast thou not taken account even of him, and caused him to enter into judgment before thee?
GreekΟὐχὶ καὶ τούτου λόγον ἐποιήσω, καὶ τοῦτον ἐποίησας εἰσελθεῖν ἐν κρίματι ἐνώπιόν σου;
KJV—
JPS—
4
ThomsonFor who can be free from stain? Surely none.
BrentonFor who shall be pure from uncleanness? not even one;
GreekΤίς γὰρ καθαρὸς ἔσται ἀπὸ ῥύπου; ἀλλʼ οὐθεὶς,
KJVWho can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
JPSWho can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
5
ThomsonWhether the course of his life on earth be one day; or months be numbered out for him, he cometh to the term thou hast set, but cannot pass it.
Brentonif even his life should be but one day upon the earth: and his months are numbered by him: thou hast appointed him for a time, and he shall by no means exceed it.
Greekἐὰν καὶ μία ἡμέρα ὁ βίος αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς· ἀριθμητοὶ δὲ μῆνες αὐτοῦ παρʼ αὐτοῦ· εἰς χρόνον ἔθου, καὶ οὐ μὴ ὑπερβῇ.
KJVSeeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
JPSSeeing his days are determined, The number of his months is with Thee, And Thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
6
ThomsonTurn away from him, that he may take rest, and comfort his life like a hireling.
BrentonDepart from him, that he may be quiet, and take pleasure in his life, though as a hireling.
GreekἈπόστα ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ, ἵνα ἡσυχάσῃ, καὶ εὐδοκήσῃ τὸν βίον, ὥσπερ ὁ μισθωτός.
KJVTurn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.
JPSLook away from him, that he may rest, Till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.
7
ThomsonFor there is hope for a tree; for if lopped, it may sprout again, and the tender branch may not fail.
BrentonFor there is hope for a tree, even if it should be cut down, that it shall blossom again, and its branch shall not fail.
GreekἜστι γὰρ δένδρῳ ἐλπὶς, ἐὰν γὰρ ἐκκοπῇ, ἔτι ἐπανθήσει, καὶ ὁ ῥάδαμνος αὐτοῦ οὐ μὴ ἐκλείπῃ.
KJVFor there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
JPSFor there is hope of a tree, If it be cut down, that it will sprout again, And that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
8
ThomsonAnd if its root become old in the earth, or die on a rock:
BrentonFor though its root should grow old in the earth, and its stem die in the rock;
GreekἘὰν γὰρ γηράσῃ ἐν γῇ ἡ ῥίζα αὐτοῦ, ἐν δὲ πέτρᾳ τελευτήσῃ,
KJVThough the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
JPSThough the root thereof wax old in the earth, And the stock thereof die in the ground;
9
Thomsonits stem by the scent of water may blossom; and produce a crop like a tree lately planted.
Brentonit will blossom from the scent of water, and will produce a crop, as one newly planted.
Greekτὸ στέλεχος αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ ὀσμῆς ὕδατος ἀνθήσει, ποιήσει δὲ θερισμὸν, ὥσπερ νεόφυτον.
KJV—
JPS—
10
ThomsonBut when a man dieth he is gone: when a mortal falleth, he is no more.
BrentonBut a man that has died is utterly gone; and when a mortal has fallen, he is no more.
GreekἈνὴρ δὲ τελευτήσας ᾤχετο, πεσὼν δὲ βροτὸς οὐκ ἔτι ἐστί.
KJV—
JPS—
11
ThomsonFor in a course of time a sea is spent; and a river when unsupplied is dried up:
BrentonFor the sea wastes in length of time, and a river fails and is dried up.
GreekΧρόνῳ γὰρ σπανίζεται θάλασσα, ποταμὸς δὲ ἐρημωθεὶς ἐξηράνθη.
KJV—
JPS—
12
Thomsonand man when composed in the grave cannot rise again—until the heaven be folded up they shall not be awakened from their sleep.
BrentonAnd man that has lain down in death shall certainly not rise again till the heaven be dissolved, and they shall not awake from their sleep.
GreekἌνθρωπος δὲ κοιμηθεὶς οὐ μὴν ἀναστῇ ἕως ἂν ὁ οὐρανὸς οὐ μὴ συῤῥαφῇ, καὶ οὐκ ἐξυπνισθήσονται ἐξ ὕπνου αὐτῶν.
KJVSo man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
JPSSo man lieth down and riseth not; Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, Nor be roused out of their sleep.
13
ThomsonO! that Thou hadst kept me in the mansion of the dead; and hid me till thine indignation should cease: and that Thou wouldst set me a time when Thou wouldst remember me
BrentonFor oh that thou hadst kept me in the grave, and hadst hidden me until thy wrath should cease, and thou shouldest set me a time in which thou wouldest remember me!
GreekΕἰ γὰρ ὄφελον ἐν ᾅδῃ με ἐφύλαξας, ἔκρυψας δέ με ἕως ἂν παύσηταί σου ἡ ὀργὴ, καὶ τάξῃ μοι χρόνον ἐν ᾧ μνείαν μου ποιήσῃ.
KJVO that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
JPSOh that Thou wouldest hide me in the nether-world, That Thou wouldest keep me secret, until Thy wrath be past, That Thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!—
14
Thomson(for though a man die he may be revived, after finishing the days of this life of his); I would wait patiently, until I come again into existence.
BrentonFor if a man should die, shall he live again, having accomplished the days of his life? I will wait till I exist again?
GreekἘὰν γὰρ ἀποθάνῃ ἄνθρωπος, ζήσεται συντελέσας ἡμέρας τοῦ βίου αὐτοῦ· ὑπομενῶ ἕως πάλιν γένωμαι;
KJVIf a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
JPSIf a man die, may he live again? All the days of my service would I wait, till my relief should come—
15
ThomsonThen call and I will answer. But reject not the works of Thy hands.
BrentonThen shalt thou call, and I will hearken to thee: but do not thou reject the work of thine hands.
GreekΕἶτα καλέσεις, ἐγὼ δέ σοι ὑπακούσομαι, τὰ δὲ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σου μὴ ἀποποιοῦ.
KJVThou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.
JPSThou wouldest call, and I would answer Thee; Thou wouldest have a desire to the work of Thy hands.
16
ThomsonNow Thou hast numbered up my devices, and not one of my inadvertencies could escape Thee.
BrentonBut thou hast numbered my devices: and not one of my sins shall escape thee?
GreekἨρίθμησας δέ μου τὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα, καὶ οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ σε οὐδὲν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν μου;
KJV—
JPS—
17
ThomsonThou hast sealed up mine iniquities in a bag; and set a mark on every transgression, which I inadvertently committed.
BrentonAnd thou hast sealed up my transgressions in a bag, and marked if I have been guilty of any transgression unawares.
GreekἘσφράγισας δέ μου τὰς ἀνομίας ἐν βαλαντίῳ, ἐπεσημῄνω δὲ εἴτι ἄκων παρέβην.
KJVMy transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.
JPSMy transgression is sealed up in a bag, And Thou heapest up mine iniquity.
18
ThomsonBut not to mention that a falling mountain will continue its fall; even a rock may by force be removed from its place.
BrentonAnd verily a mountain falling will utterly be destroyed, and a rock shall be worn out of its place.
GreekΚαὶ πλὴν ὄρος πίπτον διαπεσεῖται, καὶ πέτρα παλαιωθήσεται ἐκ τοῦ τόπου αὐτῆς.
KJVAnd surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.
JPSAnd surely the mountain falling crumbleth away, And the rock is removed out of its place;
19
ThomsonWaters have worn stones smooth; and waters have washed away mounds of earth; and Thou hast destroyed the patience of man.
BrentonThe waters wear the stones, and waters falling headlong overflow a heap of the earth: and thou destroyest the hope of man.
GreekΛίθους ἐλέαναν ὕδατα, καὶ κατέκλυσεν ὕδατα ὕπτια τοῦ χώματος τῆς γῆς· καὶ ὑπομονὴν ἀνθρώπου ἀπώλεσας.
KJVThe waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.
JPSThe waters wear the stones; The overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth; So Thou destroyest the hope of man.
20
ThomsonThou hast brought him to an end, and he is gone: Thou hast set Thy face against him and dismissed him.
BrentonThou drivest him to an end, and he is gone: thou settest thy face against him, and sendest him away;
GreekὮσας αὐτὸν εἰς τέλος, καὶ ᾤχετο· ἐπέστησας αὐτῷ τὸ πρόσωπον, καὶ ἐξαπέστειλας,
KJVThou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
JPSThou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth; Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
21
ThomsonAnd though his children be multiplied, he knoweth it not: and if they become few in number, he doth nor perceive it.
Brentonand though his children be multiplied, he knows it not; and if they be few, he is not aware.
Greekπολλὼν δὲ γενομένων τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ, οὐκ οἶδεν· ἐὰν δὲ ὀλίγοι γένωνται, οὐκ ἐπέσταται.
KJV—
JPS—
22
ThomsonHis flesh hath been for nothing but to suffer pain; and his soul only to suffer grief.
BrentonBut his flesh is in pain, and his soul mourns.
GreekἈλλʼ ἢ αἱ σάρκες αὐτοῦ ἤλγησαν, ἡ δὲ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ ἐπένθησεν.
KJVBut his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.
JPSBut his flesh grieveth for him, And his soul mourneth over him.