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

“ Man, who is born of woman, Is short-lived and full of turmoil.

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

“ Like a flower he comes forth and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.

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

“You also open Your eyes on him And bring him into judgment with Yourself.

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

“ Who can make the clean out of the 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—

“Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass.

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

“ Turn Your gaze from him that he may rest, Until he fulfills his day like a hired man.

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.

“For there is hope for a tree, When it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And its shoots will not fail.

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

“Though its roots grow old in the ground And its stump dies in the dry soil,

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

At the scent of water it will flourish And put forth sprigs like a plant.

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

“But man dies and lies prostrate. Man expires, and where is he?

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

“ As water evaporates from the sea, And a river becomes parched and dried 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.

So man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no longer, He will not awake nor be aroused out of his 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!

“Oh that You would hide me in Sheol, That You would conceal me until Your wrath returns to You, That You would set a limit for me and remember me!

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.

“If a man dies, will he live again ? All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my change comes.

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

“You will call, and I will answer You; You will long for the work of Your hands.

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

“For now You number my steps, You do not observe my sin.

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

“My transgression is sealed up in a bag, And You wrap 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,

“But the falling mountain crumbles away, And the rock moves from 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.

Water wears away stones, Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth; So You destroy man’s hope.

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

“You forever overpower him and he departs; 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.

“His sons achieve honor, but he does not know it; Or they become insignificant, but he does not perceive it.

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

“But his body pains him, And he mourns only for himself.”