[1] “Man, who is born of woman, Is short-lived and full of turmoil. [2] “Like a flower he comes forth and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not stand. [3] “You also open Your eyes on him And bring me into judgment with Yourself. [4] “Who can make the clean out of the unclean? No one! [5] “Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass. [6] “Turn Your gaze from him that he may cease from toil, Until he accepts his day like a hired man. [7] “For there is hope for a tree, When it is cut down, that it will change back sprouting again, And its shoots will not cease. [8] “Though its roots grow old in the ground And its stump dies in the dry soil, [9] At the scent of water it will flourish And put forth sprigs like a plant. [10] “But man dies and lies prostrate. Man breathes his last, and where is he? [11] “As water evaporates from the sea, And a river becomes parched and dried up, [12] So man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no longer, He will not awake nor be aroused out of his sleep. [13] “Oh that You would conceal me in Sheol, That You would hide me until Your anger returns to You, That You would set a limit for me and remember me! [14] “If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my labor I will wait Until my change comes. [15] “You will call, and I will answer You; You will long for the work of Your hands. [16] “For now You number my steps, You do not keep watch over my sin. [17] “My transgression is sealed up in a bag, And You cover up my iniquity. [18] “But the falling mountain crumbles away, And the rock moves from its place; [19] Water wears away stones; Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth; So You make man’s hope perish. [20] “You forever overpower him and he goes away; You alter his appearance and send him away. [21] “His sons achieve honor, but he does not know it; Or they become insignificant, but he does not perceive it. [22] “But his flesh pains him, And he mourns only for himself.”
