[1] “Man, who is born of woman, Is short-lived and full of turmoil. [2] “Like a flower he comes out and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain. [3] “You also open Your eyes on him And bring him into judgment with Yourself. [4] “Who can make the clean out of the unclean? No one! [5] “Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; And You have set his limits so that he cannot pass. [6] “Look away from him so that he may rest, Until he fulfills his day like a hired worker. [7] “For there is hope for a tree, When it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And its shoots will not fail. [8] “Though its roots grow old in the ground, And its stump dies in the dry soil, [9] At the scent of water it will flourish And produce sprigs like a plant. [10] “But a man dies and lies prostrate. A person passes away, and where is he? [11] “As water evaporates from the sea, And a river becomes parched and dried up, [12] So a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens no longer exist, He will not awake nor be woken from his sleep. [13] “Oh that You would hide me in Sheol, That You would conceal me until Your wrath returns to You, That You would set a limit for me and remember me! [14] “If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my relief comes. [15] “You will call, and I will answer You; You will long for the work of Your hands. [16] “For now You number my steps, You do not observe my sin. [17] “My wrongdoing is sealed up in a bag, And You cover over my guilt. [18] “But the falling mountain crumbles away, And the rock moves from its place; [19] Water wears away stones, Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth; So You destroy a man’s hope. [20] “You forever overpower him and he departs; You change his appearance and send him away. [21] “His sons achieve honor, but he does not know it; Or they become insignificant, and he does not perceive it. [22] “However, his body pains him, And his soul mourns for himself.”
