[1] “Human beings have only a few days to live. Their lives are full of trouble. [2] They grow like flowers, and then they dry up. They are like shadows that quickly disappear. [3] “God, do you even notice them? Will you let them appear in your court? [4] Who can bring what is pure from something that isn’t pure? No one! [5] You decide how long anyone will live. You have established the number of his months. You have set a limit to the number of his days. [6] So look away from him. Leave him alone. Let him put in his time like a hired worker. [7] “At least there is hope for a tree. If it’s cut down, it will begin to grow again. New branches will appear on it. [8] Its roots may grow old in the ground. Its stump may die in the soil. [9] But when it smells water, it will begin to grow. It will send out new growth like a plant. [10] No man is like that. When he dies, he is buried in a grave. He takes his last breath. Then he is gone. [11] Water dries up from lakes. Riverbeds become empty and dry. [12] In the same way, people lie down and never get up. People won’t wake or rise from their sleep until the heavens are gone. [13] “I wish you would hide me in a grave! I wish you would cover me up until your anger passes by! I wish you would set the time for me to spend in the grave and then bring me back up! [14] If someone dies, will they live again? All the days of my hard work I will wait for the time when you give me new life. [15] You will call out to me, and I will answer you. You will long for the person your hands have made. [16] Then you will count every step I take. But you won’t keep track of my sin. [17] The wrong things I’ve done will be sealed up in a bag. You will wipe out my sins by forgiving them. [18] “A mountain wears away and crumbles. A rock is moved from its place. [19] Water wears away stones. Storms wash away soil. In the same way, you destroy a person’s hope. [20] You overpower them completely, and then they’re gone. You change the way they look and send them to their graves. [21] If their children are honored, they don’t even know it. If their children are dishonored, they don’t even see it. [22] All they feel is the pain of their own bodies. They are full of sadness only for themselves.”
