SEV Biblia, Chapter 14:5
Si sus días están determinados, y el número de sus meses está cerca de ti; tú le pusiste términos, de los cuales no pasará.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Job 14:5
Verse 5. Seeing his days are determined ] The general term of human life is fixed by God himself; in vain are all attempts to prolong it beyond this term. Several attempts have been made in all nations to find an elixir that would expel all the seeds of disease, and keep men in continual health; but all these attempts have failed. Basil, Valentine, Norton, Dastin, Ripley, Sandivogius, Artephius, Geber, Van Helmont, Paracelsus, Philalethes, and several others, both in Europe and Asia, have written copiously on the subject, and have endeavoured to prove that a tincture might be produced, by which all imperfect metals may be transmuted into perfect; and an elixir by which the human body may be kept in a state of endless repair and health. And these profess to teach the method by which this tincture and this elixir may be made! Yet all these are dead; and dead, for aught we know, comparatively young! Artephius is, indeed, said to have lived ninety years, which is probable; but some of his foolish disciples, to give credit to their thriftless craft, added another cipher, and made his age nine hundred! Man may endeavour to pass the bound; and God may, here and there, produce a Thomas Parr, who died in 1635, aged one hundred and fifty-two; and a Henry Jenkins, who died in 1670, aged one hundred and sixty-nine; but these are rare instances, and do not affect the general term. Nor can death be avoided. Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return, is the law, and that will ever render nugatory all such pretended tinctures and elixirs. But, although man cannot pass his appointed bounds, yet he may so live as never to reach them; for folly and wickedness abridge the term of human life; and therefore the psalmist says, Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out HALF their days, Psa. lv. 23, for by indolence, intemperance, and disorderly passions, the life of man is shortened in cases innumerable. We are not to understand the bounds as applying to individuals, but to the race in general. Perhaps there is no case in which God has determined absolutely that man's age shall be so long, and shall neither be more nor less. The contrary supposition involves innumerable absurdities.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - Job enlarges upon the condition of man, addressing himself also to God Every man of Adam's fallen race is short-lived. All his show of beauty happiness, and splendour falls before the stroke of sickness or death as the flower before the scythe; or passes away like the shadow. How is it possible for a man's conduct to be sinless, when his heart is by nature unclean? Here is a clear proof that Job understood and believe the doctrine of original sin. He seems to have intended it as a plea why the Lord should not deal with him according to his own works, but according to His mercy and grace. It is determined, in the counsel an decree of God, how long we shall live. Our times are in his hands, the powers of nature act under him; in him we live and move. And it is very useful to reflect seriously on the shortness and uncertainty of huma life, and the fading nature of all earthly enjoyments. But it is stil more important to look at the cause, and remedy of these evils. Unti we are born of the Spirit, no spiritually good thing dwells in us, or can proceed from us. Even the little good in the regenerate is defile with sin. We should therefore humble ourselves before God, and cas ourselves wholly on the mercy of God, through our Divine Surety. We should daily seek the renewing of the Holy Ghost, and look to heaven a the only place of perfect holiness and happiness.
Original Hebrew
אם 518 חרוצים 2782 ימיו 3117 מספר 4557 חדשׁיו 2320 אתך 854 חקו 2706 עשׂית 6213 ולא 3808 יעבור׃ 5674
