[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.'
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