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

2 H e grows up like a flower, and is cut down. He also flees like a shadow, and doesn’t continue.

3 D o you open your eyes on such a one, and bring me into judgment with you?

4 W ho can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one.

5 S eeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his bounds that he can’t pass;

6 L ook away from him, that he may rest, until he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.

7 “ For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, that the tender branch of it will not cease.

8 T hough its root grows old in the earth, and its stock dies in the ground,

9 y et through the scent of water it will bud, and sprout boughs like a plant.

10 B ut man dies, and is laid low. Yes, man gives up the spirit, and where is he?

11 A s the waters fail from the sea, and the river wastes and dries up,

12 s o man lies down and doesn’t rise. Until the heavens are no more, they shall not awake, nor be roused out of their sleep.

13 “ Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would keep me secret, until your wrath is past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!

14 I f a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my warfare would I wait, until my release should come.

15 Y ou would call, and I would answer you. You would have a desire to the work of your hands.

16 B ut now you number my steps. Don’t you watch over my sin?

17 M y disobedience is sealed up in a bag. You fasten up my iniquity.

18 “ But the mountain falling comes to nothing. The rock is removed out of its place;

19 T he waters wear the stones. The torrents of it wash away the dust of the earth. So you destroy the hope of man.

20 Y ou forever prevail against him, and he departs. You change his face, and send him away.

21 H is sons come to honor, and he doesn’t know it. They are brought low, but he doesn’t perceive it of them.

22 B ut his flesh on him has pain, and his soul within him mourns.”