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[1]Man, born of woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.
[2]He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; and he fleeth as a shadow, and continueth not.
[3]Yet dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
[4]Who can bring a clean [man] out of the unclean? Not one!
[5]If his days are determined, if the number of his months is with thee, [and] thou hast appointed his bounds which he must not pass,
[6]Look away from him; and let him rest, till he accomplish, as a hireling, his day.
[7]For there is hope for a tree: if it be cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender branch will not cease;
[8]Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stock die in the ground,
[9]Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and put forth boughs like a young plant.
[10]But a man dieth, and is prostrate; yea, man expireth, and where is he?
[11]The waters recede from the lake, and the river wasteth and drieth up:
[12]So man lieth down, and riseth not again; till the heavens be no more, they do not awake, nor are raised out of their sleep.
[13]Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, that thou wouldest keep me secret until thine anger 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 time of toil would I wait, till my change should come:
[15]Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee; thou wouldest have a desire after 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 heapest up mine iniquity.
[18]And indeed a mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of its place;
[19]The waters wear the stones, the floods thereof wash away the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.
[20]Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth away; thou changest his countenance, and dismissest him.
[21]His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, and he perceiveth it not.
[22]But his flesh hath pain for himself alone, and his soul mourneth for himself.
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