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 comes forth like an open flower and is cut down; he flees as a shadow and does not remain.

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 a one and bring 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? No 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.

If thou should leave him, he will cease to exist; until then, he shall desire, as a 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 yet hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again and that its tender branch will not cease.

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

Though its root waxes old in the earth and its trunk is dead in the ground,

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

at the scent of water it will bud and bring forth boughs like a new plant.

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

But when man shall die and be cut off, and the man shall perish, where shall he be?

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

The waters from the sea went, and the river ran out, it dried 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 lies down and does not rise; until there is no heaven, 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 would hide me in Sheol, that thou would keep me covered until thy wrath is past, that thou would 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 dies, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time I will wait until my transformation comes.

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

Then thou shalt call, and I will answer thee; thou wilt have a desire towards the work of thine hands.

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

¶ For now thou dost number my steps; thou dost not open up 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 dost sew up my iniquity.

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

And certainly the mountain that falls is undone, and the rocks are removed out of their 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 impetuous waters break the stones and wash away the dust of the earth; in like manner thou dost cause man to lose hope.

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

Thou shalt be stronger than him for ever, and he passes; thou dost change his countenance and send 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 shall be honoured and he shall not know of it; or they shall be afflicted, but he shall not perceive of them.

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

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