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

Man that 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; and he fleeth as a shadow, and continueth not.

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

3 Y et dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?

And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?

4 W ho can bring a clean out of the unclean? Not one!

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

5 I f his days are determined, if the number of his months is with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds which he must not pass,

Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

6 L ook away from him; and let him rest, till he accomplish, as a hireling, his day.

turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.

7 F or there is hope for a tree: if it be cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender branch will not cease;

For 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.

8 T hough its root grow old in the earth, and its stock die in the ground,

Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;

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

yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.

10 B ut a man dieth, and is prostrate; yea, man expireth, and where is he?

But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?

11 T he waters recede from the lake, and the river wasteth and drieth up:

As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:

12 S o man lieth down, and riseth not again; till the heavens be no more, they do not awake, nor are raised out of their sleep.

so man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall 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 thine anger be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me,—

O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

14 ( If a man die, shall he live ?) all the days of my time of toil would I wait, till my change should come:

If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

15 T hou wouldest call, and I would answer thee; thou wouldest have a desire after the work of thy hands.

Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

16 F or now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?

For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?

17 M y transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou heapest up mine iniquity.

My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.

18 A nd indeed a mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of its place;

And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.

19 T he waters wear the stones, the floods thereof wash away the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.

The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.

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

Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.

21 H is sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, and he perceiveth it not.

His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

22 B ut his flesh hath pain for himself alone, and his soul mourneth for himself.

But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.