[1] “Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.
[2] Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.
[3] Do You open Your eyes to one like this? Will You bring him into judgment before You?
[4] Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!
[5] Since his days are determined and the number of his months is with You, and since You have set limits that he cannot exceed,
[6] look away from him and let him rest, so he can enjoy his day as a hired hand.
[7] For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail.
[8] If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil,
[9] at the scent of water it will bud and put forth twigs like a sapling.
[10] But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?
[11] As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry,
[12] so a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, he will not be awakened or roused from sleep.
[13] If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me!
[14] When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes.
[15] You will call, and I will answer; You will desire the work of Your hands.
[16] For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.
[17] My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.
[18] But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,
[19] as water wears away the stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy a man’s hope.
[20] You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.
[21] If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware.
[22] He feels only the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.”