1 M an who is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.

2 H e comes forth like a flower and withers; he flees also like a shadow and continues not.

3 A nd do You open Your eyes upon such a one, and bring me into judgment with You?

4 W ho can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one!

5 S ince a man’s days are already determined, and the number of his months is wholly in Your control, and he cannot pass the bounds of his allotted time—

6 t urn from him; let him rest until he has accomplished as does a hireling the appointed time for his day.

7 F or there is hope for a tree if it is cut down, that it will sprout again and that the tender shoots of it will not cease.

8 T hough its roots grow old in the earth and its stock dies in the ground,

9 Y et through the scent of water will bud and bring forth boughs like a young plant.

10 B ut man must die and lie prostrate; yes, man breathes his last, and where is he?

11 A s waters evaporate from the lake, and the river drains and dries up,

12 S o man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, men will not awake nor be raised out of their sleep.

13 O h, that You would hide me in Sheol (the unseen state), that You would conceal me until Your wrath is past, that You would set a definite time and then remember me earnestly!

14 I f a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my warfare and service I will wait, till my change and release shall come.

15 Y ou would call and I would answer You; You would yearn for the work of Your hands.

16 B ut now You number each of my steps and take note of my every sin.

17 M y transgression is sealed up in a bag, and You glue up my iniquity.

18 B ut as a mountain, if it falls, crumbles to nothing, and as the rock is removed out of its place,

19 A s waters wear away the stones and as floods wash away the soil of the earth, so You destroy the hope of man.

20 Y ou prevail forever against him, and he passes on; You change his appearance and send him away.

21 H is sons come to honor, and he knows it not; they are brought low, and he perceives it not.

22 B ut his body shall grieve over him, and his soul shall mourn.