1 Man that is born of a woman is 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.
