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 an 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 are with thee,
Thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
6 Turn from him, that he may rest,
Till he shall accomplish, as an 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 bring forth boughs like a plant.
10 But man dieth, and wasteth away:
Yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
11 As the waters fail from the sea,
And the flood decayeth and drieth up:
12 So man lieth down, and riseth not:
Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake,
Nor be raised out of their sleep.
13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave,
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 appointed time will I wait,
Till my change come.
15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee:
Thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine 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 sewest up mine iniquity.
18 And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought,
And the rock is removed out of his place.
19 The waters wear the stones:
Thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth;
And 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 honour, and he knoweth it not;
And they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.
22 But his flesh upon him shall have pain,
And his soul within him shall mourn.