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.
