Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “Only a few years will pass before I take the path of no return. New Living Translation For soon I must go down that road from which I will never return. English Standard Version For when a few years have come I shall go the way from which I shall not return. Berean Standard Bible For when only a few years are past I will go the way of no return. King James Bible When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return. New King James Version For when a few years are finished, I shall go the way of no return. New American Standard Bible “For when a few years are past, I shall go the way of no return. NASB 1995 “For when a few years are past, I shall go the way of no return. NASB 1977 “For when a few years are past, I shall go the way of no return. Legacy Standard Bible For when a few years are past, I shall go the way of no return. Amplified Bible “For when a few years are past, I shall go the way of no return. Christian Standard Bible For only a few years will pass before I go the way of no return. Holman Christian Standard Bible For only a few years will pass before I go the way of no return. American Standard Version For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return. Contemporary English Version Because in only a few years, I will be dead and gone. English Revised Version For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return. GOD'S WORD® Translation because in a few short years I will take the path of no return. Good News Translation My years are passing now, and I walk the road of no return. International Standard Version For when only a few years have elapsed, I'll start down a path from which I'll never return." Majority Standard Bible For when only a few years are past I will go the way of no return. NET Bible For the years that lie ahead are few, and then I will go on the way of no return. New Heart English Bible For when a few years are come, I shall go the way from where I shall not return. Webster's Bible Translation When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return. World English Bible For when a few years have come, I will go the way of no return. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWhen a few years come, "" Then I go [on] the path of no return.” Young's Literal Translation When a few years do come, Then a path I return not do I go. Smith's Literal Translation When years of number shall come, and the way I shall go I shall not turn back. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor behold short years pass away and I am walking in a path by which l shall not return. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible For my years are numbered, and I go the road of no return. New Revised Standard Version For when a few years have come, I shall go the way from which I shall not return. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor the number of a man's years will come to an end; then he shall go the way from whence he shall not return. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated For the number of his years are coming, and he goes the way without return! OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917For the years that are few are coming on, And I shall go the way whence I shall not return. Brenton Septuagint Translation But my years are numbered and their end come, and I shall go by the way by which I shall not return. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Job Decries his Comforters…21Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor! 22For when only a few years are past I will go the way of no return. Cross References Psalm 39:4-5 “Show me, O LORD, my end and the measure of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is. / You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah Ecclesiastes 12:7 before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Hebrews 9:27 Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment, James 4:14 You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Psalm 90:10 The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty if we are strong—yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 1 Peter 1:24 For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, Genesis 3:19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground—because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Psalm 89:48 What man can live and never see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah 2 Samuel 14:14 For we will surely die and be like water poured out on the ground, which cannot be recovered. Yet God does not take away a life, but He devises ways that the banished one may not be cast out from Him. Isaiah 38:10-12 I said, “In the prime of my life I must go through the gates of Sheol and be deprived of the remainder of my years.” / I said, “I will never again see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living; I will no longer look on mankind with those who dwell in this world. / My dwelling has been picked up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver; He cuts me off from the loom; from day until night You make an end of me. Philippians 1:23 I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. 2 Timothy 4:6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. John 14:2-3 In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? / And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. / For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. Treasury of Scripture When a few years are come, then I shall go the way from where I shall not return. a few years. Job 14:5,14 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; … whence Job 7:9,10 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more… Job 14:10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? Ecclesiastes 12:5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: Jump to Previous Few Journey Past Path Short Time Way WhenceJump to Next Few Journey Past Path Short Time Way WhenceJob 16 1. Job reproves his friends for unmercifulness17. He maintains his innocence For when only a few years are past This phrase reflects Job's awareness of the brevity of life. In the context of the ancient Near East, life expectancy was generally shorter than today, and the unpredictability of life was a common theme. Job's lamentation here is consistent with the wisdom literature's emphasis on the fleeting nature of human existence, as seen in Psalms 39:4-5 and Ecclesiastes 3:20. The phrase underscores the urgency and immediacy of Job's suffering, as he feels his time is running out. I will go the way of no return Persons / Places / Events 1. JobThe central figure in the Book of Job, a man of great faith and integrity who undergoes severe trials and suffering. Job is known for his patience and perseverance in the face of adversity. 2. Uz The land where Job lived. It is often associated with the region east of Israel, possibly in Edom or northern Arabia. 3. Job's Friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who visit Job to comfort him but end up arguing with him about the reasons for his suffering. 4. God The ultimate authority and sovereign being who allows Job's trials to test his faith and integrity. 5. The Way of No Return A metaphorical expression referring to death, highlighting the inevitability and finality of human mortality. Teaching Points The Brevity of LifeJob's acknowledgment of his limited time on earth serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of life. Christians are encouraged to live purposefully, making the most of their time in service to God and others. The Certainty of Death The "way of no return" underscores the certainty of death for all humans. Believers are called to live with an eternal perspective, preparing for the life to come. Trust in God's Sovereignty Despite the inevitability of death, Job's account encourages believers to trust in God's sovereignty and goodness, even when facing life's uncertainties and trials. Hope Beyond Death While Job speaks of death's finality, the broader biblical account offers hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, promising eternal life to those who believe.(22) When a few years are come.--Literally, years of number, which means either "years than can be easily numbered," as men of number (Genesis 34:20) is used to express few men; or "years that are numbered," that is, allotted, determined. It is strange to find Job speaking, in his condition, of years, but so, for that matter, is it to find a man so sorely tormented as he was indulging in so long an argument. Perhaps this shows us that the narrative of Job is intended to be an ideal only, setting forth the low estate of sin-stricken humanity: this is only thrown out as a suggestion, no weight is assigned to it more than it may chance to claim. Perhaps, however, these words are spoken by Job in contemplation of his condition as a dying man, even had he not been so afflicted. Verse 22. - When a few years are come; literally, a number of years, which generally means a small number. I shall go the way whence I shall not return. This verse would more fitly begin the following chapter, which opens in a similar strain, with an anticipation of the near approach of death |
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