1Man that is born of woman, is of short continuance and full of trouble.
2He shooteth forth as a flower, and is cut down: he vanisheth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
3And yet thou openest thine eyes upon such one, and causest me to enter into judgment with thee.
4Who can bring a clean thing out of filthiness? there is not one.
5Are not his days determined? the number of his months are with thee: thou hast appointed his bound, which he cannot pass.
6Turn from him that he may cease until his desired day, as an hireling.
7For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will yet sprout, and the branches thereof will not cease.
8Though the root of it wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof be dead in the ground,
9Yet by the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.
10But man is sick, and dieth, and man perisheth, and where is he?
11As the waters pass from the sea, and as the flood decayeth and drieth up,
12So man sleepeth and riseth not: for he shall not wake again, nor be raised from his sleep till the heaven be no more.
13Oh that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, and keep me secret, until thy wrath were past, and wouldest give me term, and remember me!
14If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of mine appointed time will I wait, till my changing shall come.
15Thou shalt call me, and I will answer thee: thou lovest the work of thine own hands.
16But now thou numberest my steps, and doest not delay my sins.
17Mine iniquity is sealed up, as in a bag, and thou addest unto my wickedness.
18And surely as the mountain that falleth, cometh to nought, and the rock that is removed from his place:
19As the water breaketh the stones, when thou overflowest the things which grow in the dust of the earth: so thou destroyest the hope of man.
20Thou prevailest always against him, so that he passeth away: he changeth his face when thou castest him away.
21And he knoweth not if his sons shall be honorable, neither shall he understand concerning them, whether they shall be of low degree,
22But while his flesh is upon him, he shall be sorrowful, and while his soul is in him, it shall mourn.