Job
Chapter 14
A man born of woman has a short life full of sorrow.
Like a flower, he blossoms and withers; transient and fleeting as a shadow.
Is he the one you look on and bring before you for judgment?
Who can distinguish the clean from the unclean? No one!
Since his days are limited and you have set the number of his months, place boundaries he cannot pass.
Then leave him alone; turn away from him until he completes his day like a hired worker.
There is hope for a tree: if cut down it will sprout again, its new shoots will still appear.
Though its roots grow old in the ground and its stump withers in the soil,
at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shoots like a young plant.
But when man is cut down, he comes undone; he breathes his last—where will he be?
The waters of the sea may disappear, rivers drain away,
but the one who lies down will not rise again; the heavens will vanish before he wakes, before he rises from his sleep.
If only you would hide me in the grave and shelter me until your wrath is past! If only you would set a time for me and then remember me!
If you die, will you live again? All the days of my service I would wait for my release.
You would call and I would answer; you would long for the work of your hands again.
Now you watch my every step, but then you would stop counting my sins.
My offenses would be sealed in a bag, and you would do away with my guilt.
But as mountains erode and crumble, as rock is moved from its place,
as waters wear away stones and floods wash away the soil, so you destroy the hope of man.
You crush him once for all, and he is gone; you change his appearance and send him away.
If his children are honored, he does not know it; if brought low, he does not see it.
Only the pain of his own body does he feel; only for himself does he mourn.
Commentaries
First Speech Session.
Appalled by Job’s laments and his repeated “whys,” the three friends break their wise silence and feel urged to reply. The speeches are divided into three sessions: 4:1-14:22, 15:1-21:34, and 22:1-27:23. In the first two, each friend speaks, and Job responds extensively. The third session seems somewhat disorganized, likely due to confusion in the text.
Job’s Response to Zophar.
Unfazed by Zophar’s accusation, Job begins his longest speech, aside from chapters 29-31. Chapter 12 is rich with wise ideas and terminology; chapter 13 focuses on legal expressions; chapter 14 contains laments. In a culture that values honor and shame, “what people say” is very significant. Thus, in 12:4-6, Job reflects on how his misfortunes have caused him shame and disgrace by making him the target of mockery and scorn among his neighbors and family. Eliphaz previously spoke (5:10-13) about the God who creates. Here (12:13-25), Job speaks of the God who causes chaos in the natural world (12:15; 19:21ff), echoing the story of the universal flood (Genesis 6-8). Once again, Job seeks to bring God into the courtroom (13:3). He has three witnesses, but their testimonies are false!
To demonstrate that his friend’s words have neither intimidated nor silenced him, Job affirms that he is willing to defend his cause before God himself and come out alive! To do so, God must promise not to overwhelm him with His divine power (“hand”). However, he quickly recognizes his foolish confidence and returns to lamenting. He cannot consider himself sinless (13:26), but whatever his fault may be, it does not warrant this. His lament exposes the darker side of existence, highlighting two aspects: human life is fragile and fleeting (14:1-6), and there is no hope of life after death (14:7-22). We die, and that’s the end of it. Only physical pain and inner turmoil accompany the suffering in their loneliness (14:18-22).