| 1 | Man, born of woman! Of few days, and full of trouble! |
| 2 | As a flower he hath gone forth, and is cut off, And he fleeth as a shadow and standeth not. |
| 3 | Also—on this Thou hast opened Thine eyes, And dost bring me into judgment with Thee. |
| 4 | Who giveth a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. |
| 5 | If determined are his days, The number of his months [are] with Thee, His limit Thou hast made, And he passeth not over; |
| 6 | Look away from off him that he may cease, Till he enjoy as an hireling his day. |
| 7 | For there is of a tree hope, if it be cut down, That again it doth change, That its tender branch doth not cease. |
| 8 | If its root becometh old in the earth, And its stem doth die in the dust, |
| 9 | From the fragrance of water it doth flourish, And hath made a crop as a plant. |
| 10 | And a man dieth, and becometh weak, And man expireth, and where [is] he? |
| 11 | Waters have gone away from a sea, And a river becometh waste and dry. |
| 12 | And man hath lain down, and riseth not, Till the wearing out of the heavens they awake not, Nor are roused from their sleep. |
| 13 | O that in Sheol Thou wouldst conceal me, Hide me till the turning of Thine anger, Set for me a limit, and remember me. |
| 14 | If a man dieth—doth he revive? All days of my warfare I wait, till my change come. |
| 15 | Thou dost call, and I—I answer Thee; To the work of Thy hands Thou hast desire. |
| 16 | But now, my steps Thou numberest, Thou dost not watch over my sin. |
| 17 | Sealed up in a bag [is] my transgression, And Thou sewest up mine iniquity. |
| 18 | And yet, a falling mountain wasteth away, And a rock is removed from its place. |
| 19 | Stones have waters worn away, Their outpourings wash away the dust of earth, And the hope of man Thou hast destroyed. |
| 20 | Thou prevailest [over] him for ever, and he goeth, He is changing his countenance, And Thou sendest him away. |
| 21 | Honoured are his sons, and he knoweth not; And they are little, and he attendeth not to them. |
| 22 | Only—his flesh for him is pained, And his soul for him doth mourn.' |