14
1 “Man,
who is born
of a woman,
is of few
days, and full
of trouble.
2 He
grows up like
a flower, and
is cut down.
He also flees
like a shadow,
and doesn’t continue.
3 Do
you open your
eyes on such
a one,
and bring me into
judgment with you?
4 Who
can bring a
clean thing out
of an unclean?
Not one.
5 Seeing his
days are
determined,
the number of
his months is
with you,
and you have
appointed his
bounds that he
can’t pass.
6 Look
away from him,
that he may
rest,
until he accomplishes,
as a hireling,
his day.
7 “For
there is hope
for a tree
if it is
cut down,
that it will
sprout again,
that the tender
branch of it
will not cease.
8 Though its
root grows old in
the earth,
and its stock
dies in the
ground,
9 yet through
the scent of
water it will
bud,
and sprout boughs
like a plant.
10 But
man dies, and
is laid low.
Yes, man gives up the spirit,
and where is he?
11 As
the waters fail
from the sea,
and the
river wastes and
dries up,
12 so man
lies down
and doesn’t rise.
Until the heavens
are no more,
they will not
awake,
nor be roused
out of their
sleep.
13 “Oh
that you would
hide me in
Sheol,
that you would
keep me secret
until your wrath
is past,
that you would
appoint me a
set time and
remember me!
14 If a
man dies, will
he live again?
I would wait
all the days
of my warfare,
until my release
should come.
15 You
would call, and
I would answer
you.
You would have
a desire for
the work of
your hands.
16 But
now you count
my steps.
Don’t you watch
over my sin?
17 My disobedience is
sealed up in
a bag.
You fasten up my
iniquity.
18 “But the
mountain falling comes
to nothing.
The rock is
removed out of its
place.
19 The
waters wear
the stones.
The torrents of
it wash away
the dust of
the earth.
So you destroy the
hope of man.
20 You
forever prevail
against him, and
he departs.
You change his
face, and send
him away.
21 His
sons come to
honor, and
he doesn’t know it.
They are brought
low, but he doesn’t
perceive it of
them.
22 But
his flesh on
him has pain,
and his soul
within him mourns.”