[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 thine eyes upon such a one, And bringest 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, And thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; [6] Look away 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 be cut down, that it will sprout again, And that the tender branch thereof will not cease. [8] Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, And the stock thereof die in the ground; [9] Yet through the scent of water it will bud, And put forth boughs like a plant. [10] But man dieth, and is laid low: Yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? [11] As the waters fail from the sea, And the river wasteth and drieth up; [12] So man lieth down and riseth not: Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, Nor be roused out of their sleep. [13] Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, That thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath 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 warfare would I wait, Till my release should come. [15] Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee: Thou wouldest have a desire to the work of thy hands. [16] But now thou numberest my steps: Dost thou not watch over my sin? [17] My transgression is sealed up in a bag, And thou fastenest up mine iniquity. [18] But the mountain falling cometh to nought; And the rock is removed out of its place; [19] The waters wear the stones; The overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth: So 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 hath pain, And his soul within him mourneth.
