1 “ Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble.

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

2 H e comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue.

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

3 A nd do You open Your eyes on such a one, And bring me to judgment with Yourself?

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

4 W ho can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one!

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

5 S ince his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.

“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 L ook away from him that he may rest, Till like a hired man he finishes his day.

“ 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, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And that its tender shoots will not cease.

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

8 T hough its root may grow old in the earth, And its stump may die in the ground,

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

9 Y et at the scent of water it will bud And bring forth branches like a plant.

At the scent of water it will flourish And put forth sprigs like a plant.

10 B ut man dies and is laid away; Indeed he breathes his last And where is he?

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

11 A s water disappears from the sea, And a river becomes parched and dries up,

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

12 S o man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, They will not awake Nor be roused from their sleep.

So 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 the grave, That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past, That You would appoint me a set time, and remember me!

“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 I f a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes.

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

15 Y ou shall call, and I will answer You; You shall desire the work of Your hands.

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

16 F or now You number my steps, But do not watch over my sin.

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

17 M y transgression is sealed up in a bag, And You cover my iniquity.

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

18 “ But as a mountain falls and crumbles away, And as a rock is moved from its place;

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

19 A s water wears away stones, And as torrents wash away the soil of the earth; So You destroy the hope of man.

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

20 Y ou prevail forever against him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.

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

21 H is sons come to honor, and he does not know it; They are brought low, and he does not perceive it.

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

22 B ut his flesh will be in pain over it, And his soul will mourn over it.”

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