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 doth thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into
judgment with thee?
4Who 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:
12So 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!
14If 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 mountains 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.