22 verses
Job laments the brevity and misery of human life, questioning the hope of restoration while acknowledging God’s sovereign control.
In Job 14, the speaker laments the fleeting and painful nature of human existence, comparing a person’s life to a fleeting flower that is cut down. He asks God to judge him fairly, expressing doubt that any good can come from human suffering. He acknowledges that death is inevitable, comparing human mortality to the sea’s waters drying up. Despite the despair, he reflects on the possibility of hope, noting that even a cut-down tree can sprout again, suggesting a chance of renewal. The speaker calls for God to hide him in the grave until His wrath subsides, and he longs for a set time when he might live again. He questions whether death ends life or merely pauses it, and he asks God to listen to his plea. Ultimately, he expresses the futility of human attempts to avoid judgment, as God’s timing is unchangeable.
negative
The speaker expresses deep despair and fear of death, but also hints at a fragile hope.