Man
that is born
of a woman
is of few
days,
and full
of trouble.
He cometh forth
like a flower,
and is cut down:
he fleeth
also as a shadow,
and continueth
not.
And dost thou open
thine eyes
upon such an one,
and bringest
me into judgment
with thee?
Who can bring
a clean
thing out of an unclean?
not one.
Seeing
his days
are determined,
the number
of his months
are with thee, thou hast appointed
his bounds
that he cannot pass;
Turn
from him, that he may rest,
till he shall accomplish,
as an hireling,
his day.
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.
Though the root
thereof wax old
in the earth,
and the stock
thereof die
in the ground;
Yet through the scent
of water
it will bud,
and bring forth
boughs
like a plant.
But man
dieth,
and wasteth away:
yea, man
giveth up the ghost,
and where is he?
As the waters
fail
from the sea,
and the flood
decayeth
and drieth up:
So man
lieth down,
and riseth
not: till the heavens
be no more,
they shall not awake,
nor be raised out
of their sleep.
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!
If a man
die,
shall he live
again? all the days
of my appointed time
will I wait,
till my change
come.
Thou shalt call,
and I will answer
thee: thou wilt have a desire
to the work
of thine hands.
For now thou numberest
my steps:
dost thou not watch
over my sin?
My transgression
is sealed up
in a bag,
and thou sewest up
mine iniquity.
And surely
the mountain
falling
cometh to nought,
and the rock
is removed
out of his place.
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.
Thou prevailest
for ever
against him, and he passeth:
thou changest
his countenance,
and sendest him away.
His sons
come to honour,
and he knoweth
it not; and they are brought low,
but he perceiveth
it not of them.
But his flesh
upon him shall have pain,
and his soul
within him shall mourn.
