| 1 | Man, born of woman, is of few days, and full of trouble. |
| 2 | He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; and he fleeth as a shadow, and continueth not. |
| 3 | Yet dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? |
| 4 | Who can bring a clean [man] out of the unclean? Not one! |
| 5 | If his days are determined, if the number of his months is with thee, [and] thou hast appointed his bounds which he must not pass, |
| 6 | Look away from him; and let him rest, till he accomplish, as a hireling, his day. |
| 7 | For there is hope for a tree: if it be cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender branch will not cease; |
| 8 | Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stock die in the ground, |
| 9 | Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and put forth boughs like a young plant. |
| 10 | But a man dieth, and is prostrate; yea, man expireth, and where is he? |
| 11 | The waters recede from the lake, and the river wasteth and drieth up: |
| 12 | So man lieth down, and riseth not again; till the heavens be no more, they do not awake, nor are raised out of their sleep. |
| 13 | Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, that thou wouldest keep me secret until thine anger 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 time of toil would I wait, till my change should come: |
| 15 | Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee; thou wouldest have a desire after the work of thy 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 heapest up mine iniquity. |
| 18 | And indeed a mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of its place; |
| 19 | The waters wear the stones, the floods thereof wash away the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man. |
| 20 | Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth away; thou changest his countenance, and dismissest him. |
| 21 | His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, and he perceiveth it not. |
| 22 | But his flesh hath pain for himself alone, and his soul mourneth for himself. |