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

¶ Man that 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 an open flower and is cut down; he flees as a shadow and does not remain.

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

And dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one and bring me into judgment with thee?

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;

Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass.

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

If thou should leave him, he will cease to exist; until then, he shall desire, 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.

¶ 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.

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

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

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

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

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

But when man shall die and be cut off, and the man shall perish, where shall he be?

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

The waters from the sea went, and the river ran out, it dried 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; until there is no heaven, they shall 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!

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!

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 appointed time I will wait until my transformation comes.

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

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

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

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

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

And certainly the mountain that falls is undone, and the rocks are removed out of their 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.

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

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

Thou shalt be stronger than him for ever, and he passes; thou dost change his countenance 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 shall be honoured and he shall not know of it; or they shall be afflicted, but he shall not perceive of them.

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

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