- 1
- Man, born of woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.
- 2
- He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down;
and he fleeth as a shadow, and continueth not.
- 3
- Yet dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
- 4
- Who can bring a clean [man] out of the unclean?
Not one!
- 5
- If his days are determined, if the number of his months is with thee, [and] thou hast appointed his bounds which he must not pass,
- 6
- Look away from him;
and let him rest, till he accomplish, as a hireling, his day.
- 7
- For there is hope for a tree: if it be cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender branch will not cease;
- 8
- Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stock die in the ground,
- 9
- Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and put forth boughs like a young plant.
- 10
- But a man dieth, and is prostrate;
yea, man expireth, and where is he?
- 11
- The waters recede from the lake, and the river wasteth and drieth up:
- 12
- So man lieth down, and riseth not again;
till the heavens be no more, they do not awake, nor are raised out of their sleep.
- 13
- Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, that thou wouldest keep me secret until thine anger 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 time of toil would I wait, till my change should come:
- 15
- Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee;
thou wouldest have a desire after the work of thy 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 heapest up mine iniquity.
- 18
- And indeed a mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of its place;
- 19
- The waters wear the stones, the floods thereof wash away the dust of the earth;
and thou destroyest the hope of man.
- 20
- Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth away;
thou changest his countenance, and dismissest him.
- 21
- His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not;
and they are brought low, and he perceiveth it not.
- 22
- But his flesh hath pain for himself alone, and his soul mourneth for himself.
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