1Man that is born of a woman

Is of few days, and full of trouble.

2He cometh forth like a flower, and withereth;

He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

3And dost Thou open Thine eyes upon such a one,

And bringest me into judgment with Thee?

4Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

5Seeing his days are determined,

The number of his months is with Thee,

And Thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

6Look away from him, that he may rest,

Till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.

7For 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.

8Though the root thereof wax old in the earth,

And the stock thereof die in the ground;

9Yet through the scent of water it will bud,

And put forth boughs like a plant.

10But man dieth, and lieth low;

Yea, man perisheth, and where is he?

11As the waters fail from the sea,

And the river is drained dry;

12So man lieth down and riseth not;

Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake,

Nor be roused out of their sleep.

13Oh that Thou wouldest hide me in the nether-world,

That Thou wouldest keep me secret, until Thy wrath be past,

That Thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!—

14If a man die, may he live again?

All the days of my service would I wait, till my relief should come—

15Thou wouldest call, and I would answer Thee;

Thou wouldest have a desire to the work of Thy hands.

16But now Thou numberest my steps,

Thou dost not even wait for my sin;

17My transgression is sealed up in a bag,

And Thou heapest up mine iniquity.

18And surely the mountain falling crumbleth away,

And the rock is removed out of its place;

19The waters wear the stones;

The overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth;

So Thou destroyest the hope of man.

20Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth;

Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.

21His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not;

And they are brought low, but he regardeth them not.

22But his flesh grieveth for him,

And his soul mourneth over him.