1 M an, born of woman! Of few days, and full of trouble!

Man, that is born of a woman, Is of few days, and full of trouble.

2 A s a flower he hath gone forth, and is cut off, And he fleeth as a shadow and standeth not.

He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

3 A lso -- on this Thou hast opened Thine eyes, And dost bring me into judgment with Thee.

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

4 W ho giveth a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

5 I f determined are his days, The number of his months with Thee, His limit Thou hast made, And he passeth not over;

Seeing his days are determined, The number of his months is with thee, And thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

6 L ook away from off him that he may cease, Till he enjoy as an hireling his day.

Look away from him, that he may rest, Till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.

7 F or there is of a tree hope, if it be cut down, That again it doth change, That its tender branch doth not cease.

For there is hope of a tree, If it be cut down, that it will sprout again, And that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

8 I f its root becometh old in the earth, And its stem doth die in the dust,

Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, And the stock thereof die in the ground;

9 F rom the fragrance of water it doth flourish, And hath made a crop as a plant.

Yet through the scent of water it will bud, And put forth boughs like a plant.

10 A nd a man dieth, and becometh weak, And man expireth, and where he?

But man dieth, and is laid low: Yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?

11 W aters have gone away from a sea, And a river becometh waste and dry.

As the waters fail from the sea, And the river wasteth and drieth up;

12 A nd man hath lain down, and riseth not, Till the wearing out of the heavens they awake not, Nor are roused from their sleep.

So man lieth down and riseth not: Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, Nor be roused out of their sleep.

13 O that in Sheol Thou wouldst conceal me, Hide me till the turning of Thine anger, Set for me a limit, and remember me.

Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, That thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, That thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

14 I f a man dieth -- doth he revive? All days of my warfare I wait, till my change come.

If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my warfare would I wait, Till my release should come.

15 T hou dost call, and I -- I answer Thee; To the work of Thy hands Thou hast desire.

Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee: Thou wouldest have a desire to the work of thy hands.

16 B ut now, my steps Thou numberest, Thou dost not watch over my sin.

But now thou numberest my steps: Dost thou not watch over my sin?

17 S ealed up in a bag my transgression, And Thou sewest up mine iniquity.

My transgression is sealed up in a bag, And thou fastenest up mine iniquity.

18 A nd yet, a falling mountain wasteth away, And a rock is removed from its place.

But the mountain falling cometh to nought; And the rock is removed out of its place;

19 S tones have waters worn away, Their outpourings wash away the dust of earth, And the hope of man Thou hast destroyed.

The waters wear the stones; The overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth: So thou destroyest the hope of man.

20 T hou prevailest him for ever, and he goeth, He is changing his countenance, And Thou sendest him away.

Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth; Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.

21 H onoured are his sons, and he knoweth not; And they are little, and he attendeth not to them.

His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; And they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

22 O nly -- his flesh for him is pained, And his soul for him doth mourn.'

But his flesh upon him hath pain, And his soul within him mourneth.