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

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 bring 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? No 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 are with thee, 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 I f thou should leave him, he will cease to exist; until then, he shall desire, 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 ¶ 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.

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

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

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

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

10 B ut when man shall die and be cut off, and the man shall perish, where shall he be?

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

11 T he waters from the sea went, and the river ran out, it dried up.

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

12 S o man lies down and does not rise; until there is no heaven, they shall not awake nor be raised 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 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!

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 dies, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time I will wait until my transformation comes.

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

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

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

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

18 A nd certainly the mountain that falls is undone, and the rocks are removed out of their place.

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

19 T he impetuous waters break the stones and wash away the dust of the earth; in like manner thou dost cause man to lose hope.

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 shalt be stronger than him for ever, and he passes; thou dost change his countenance and send him away.

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

21 H is sons shall be honoured and he shall not know of it; or they shall be afflicted, but he shall not perceive of them.

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

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

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