1 “ Man, who is born of woman, Is short-lived and full of turmoil.

2 “ Like a flower he comes forth and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.

3 “ You also open Your eyes on him And bring him into judgment with Yourself.

4 “ Who can make the clean out of the unclean? No one!

5 “ Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass.

6 “ Turn Your gaze from him that he may rest, Until he fulfills his day like a hired man.

7 “ For there is hope for a tree, When it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And its shoots will not fail.

8 “ Though its roots grow old in the ground And its stump dies in the dry soil,

9 A t the scent of water it will flourish And put forth sprigs like a plant.

10 “ But man dies and lies prostrate. Man expires, and where is he?

11 “ As water evaporates from the sea, And a river becomes parched and dried up,

12 S o man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no longer, He will not awake nor be aroused out of his sleep.

13 “ Oh that You would hide me in Sheol, That You would conceal me until Your wrath returns to You, That You would set a limit for me and remember me!

14 “ If a man dies, will he live again ? All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my change comes.

15 “ You will call, and I will answer You; You will long for the work of Your hands.

16 “ For now You number my steps, You do not observe my sin.

17 “ My transgression is sealed up in a bag, And You wrap up my iniquity.

18 “ But the falling mountain crumbles away, And the rock moves from its place;

19 W ater wears away stones, Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth; So You destroy man’s hope.

20 “ You forever overpower him and he departs; You change his appearance and send him away.

21 “ His sons achieve honor, but he does not know it; Or they become insignificant, but he does not perceive it.

22 “ But his body pains him, And he mourns only for himself.”