1 | Man, born of woman! Of few days, and full of trouble! |
2 | As a flower he hath gone forth, and is cut off, And he fleeth as a shadow and standeth not. |
3 | Also -- on this Thou hast opened Thine eyes, And dost bring me into judgment with Thee. |
4 | Who giveth a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. |
5 | If determined are his days, The number of his months [are] with Thee, His limit Thou hast made, And he passeth not over; |
6 | Look away from off him that he may cease, Till he enjoy as an hireling his day. |
7 | For there is of a tree hope, if it be cut down, That again it doth change, That its tender branch doth not cease. |
8 | If its root becometh old in the earth, And its stem doth die in the dust, |
9 | From the fragrance of water it doth flourish, And hath made a crop as a plant. |
10 | And a man dieth, and becometh weak, And man expireth, and where [is] he? |
11 | Waters have gone away from a sea, And a river becometh waste and dry. |
12 | And man hath lain down, and riseth not, Till the wearing out of the heavens they awake not, Nor are roused from 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. |
14 | If a man dieth -- doth he revive? All days of my warfare I wait, till my change come. |
15 | Thou dost call, and I -- I answer Thee; To the work of Thy hands Thou hast desire. |
16 | But now, my steps Thou numberest, Thou dost not watch over my sin. |
17 | Sealed up in a bag [is] my transgression, And Thou sewest up mine iniquity. |
18 | And yet, a falling mountain wasteth away, And a rock is removed from its place. |
19 | Stones have waters worn away, Their outpourings wash away the dust of earth, And the hope of man Thou hast destroyed. |
20 | Thou prevailest [over] him for ever, and he goeth, He is changing his countenance, And Thou sendest him away. |
21 | Honoured are his sons, and he knoweth not; And they are little, and he attendeth not to them. |
22 | Only -- his flesh for him is pained, And his soul for him doth mourn.` |