1 “ Man, who 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 grows up like a flower, and is cut down. He also flees like a shadow, and doesn’t continue.

He comes forth like a flower and withers; he flees also like a shadow and continues not.

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

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? Not 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 is with you, and you have appointed his bounds that he can’t 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 L ook away from him, that he may rest, until he shall accomplish, 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 hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, that the tender branch of it 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 grows old in the earth, and its stock dies in the ground,

Though its roots grow 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.

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

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

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

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

As waters evaporate from the lake, and the river drains 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.

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 “ 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!

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 warfare would I wait, until my release should come.

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

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

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

But now You number each of my steps and take note of my every sin.

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

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

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

But as a mountain, if it falls, crumbles to nothing, and as 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.

As waters wear away the stones and as floods wash away the soil 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.

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

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

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

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