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

“Man who is born of 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.

He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue.

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

And do You open Your eyes on such a one, And bring me to judgment with Yourself?

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

Who 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—

Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, 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.

Look away from him that he may rest, Till like a hired man he finishes 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.

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

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

Though its root may grow old in the earth, And its stump may die in the ground,

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

Yet at the scent of water it will bud And bring forth branches 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 is laid away; Indeed he breathes his last And where is he?

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

As water disappears from the sea, And a river becomes parched 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.

So man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, They will not awake Nor be roused from 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!

“Oh, that You would hide me in the grave, That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past, That You would appoint me a set time, 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, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes.

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

You shall call, and I will answer You; You shall desire 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, But do not watch over 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 cover 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 as a mountain falls and crumbles away, And as a rock is moved 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.

As water wears away stones, And as torrents 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.

You prevail forever against him, and he passes on; You change his countenance 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 come to honor, and he does not know it; They are brought low, and he does not perceive it.

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

But his flesh will be in pain over it, And his soul will mourn over it.”