1
Man that is born of a womanIs 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.