1 | Man [that is] born of a woman [is] of few days, and full of trouble. |
2 | He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. |
3 | And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? |
4 | Who can bring a clean [thing] out of an unclean? not one. |
5 | Seeing his days [are] determined, the number of his months [are] with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; |
6 | Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day. |
7 | 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 | Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; |
9 | [Yet] through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. |
10 | But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where [is] he? |
11 | [As] the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: |
12 | So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens [be] no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. |
13 | O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! |
14 | If a man die, shall he live [again]? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. |
15 | Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. |
16 | For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin? |
17 | My transgression [is] sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity. |
18 | And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place. |
19 | The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow [out] of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man. |
20 | Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. |
21 | His sons come to honour, and he knoweth [it] not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth [it] not of them. |
22 | But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn. |