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 thy eyes upon such one, and bring 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 is with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; |
6 | Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day. |
7 | For there is hope of a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender branch will not cease. |
8 | Though its root shall become old in the earth, and its stock 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: yes, man yieldeth his breath, 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 shall be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. |
13 | O that thou wouldst hide me in the grave, that thou wouldst keep me secret, until thy wrath is past, that thou wouldst appoint me a set time, and remember me! |
14 | If a man dieth, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change shall come. |
15 | Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thy 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 my iniquity. |
18 | And surely the mountain falling cometh to naught, and the rock is removed out of its 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 honor, 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. |