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.