1 M an, that is born of a woman, Is of few days, and full of trouble.

Man who is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.

2 H e cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

He comes forth like a flower and withers; he flees also like a shadow and continues not.

3 A nd dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, And bringest me into judgment with thee?

And 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? not one.

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one!

5 S eeing his days are determined, The number of his months is with thee, And thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

Since 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 L ook away from him, that he may rest, Till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.

turn 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 of a tree, If it be cut down, that it will sprout again, And that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

For 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 the root thereof wax old in the earth, And the stock thereof die in the ground;

Though its roots grow old in the earth and its stock dies in the ground,

9 Y et through the scent of water it will bud, And put forth boughs like a plant.

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

10 B ut man dieth, and is laid low: Yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?

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

11 A s the waters fail from the sea, And the river wasteth and drieth up;

As waters evaporate from the lake, and the river drains and dries up,

12 S o man lieth down and riseth not: Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, Nor be roused out of their sleep.

So 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 thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, That thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, That thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

Oh, 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 die, shall he live again? All the days of my warfare would I wait, Till my release should come.

If 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 T hou wouldest call, and I would answer thee: Thou wouldest have a desire to the work of thy hands.

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

16 B ut now thou numberest my steps: Dost thou not watch over my sin?

But 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 thou fastenest up mine iniquity.

My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and You glue up my iniquity.

18 B ut the mountain falling cometh to nought; And the rock is removed out of its place;

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

19 T he waters wear the stones; The overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth: So thou destroyest the hope of man.

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

20 T hou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth; Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.

You 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 knoweth it not; And they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

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

22 B ut his flesh upon him hath pain, And his soul within him mourneth.

But his body shall grieve over him, and his soul shall mourn.