[1] “Man, who is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.
[2] He grows up like a flower, and is cut down. He also flees like a shadow, and doesn’t continue.
[3] Do you open your eyes on such a one, and bring me into judgment with you?
[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 you, and you have appointed his bounds that he can’t pass;
[6] Look away from him, that he may rest, until he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.
[7] “For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, that the tender branch of it will not cease.
[8] Though its root grows old in the earth, and its stock dies in the ground,
[9] yet through the scent of water it will bud, and sprout boughs like a plant.
[10] But man dies, and is laid low. Yes, man gives up the spirit, and where is he?
[11] As the waters fail from the sea, and the river wastes and dries up,
[12] so man lies down and doesn’t rise. Until the heavens are no more, they shall not awake, nor be roused out of their sleep.
[13] “Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would keep me secret, until your wrath is past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
[14] If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my warfare would I wait, until my release should come.
[15] You would call, and I would answer you. You would have a desire to the work of your hands.
[16] But now you number my steps. Don’t you watch over my sin?
[17] My disobedience is sealed up in a bag. You fasten up my iniquity.
[18] “But the mountain falling comes to nothing. The rock is removed out of its place;
[19] The waters wear the stones. The torrents of it wash away the dust of the earth. So you destroy the hope of man.
[20] You forever prevail against him, and he departs. You change his face, and send him away.
[21] His sons come to honor, and he doesn’t know it. They are brought low, but he doesn’t perceive it of them.
[22] But his flesh on him has pain, and his soul within him mourns.”