^{1 Ref} As for man, the son of woman, his days are short and full of trouble.

^{2 Ref} He comes out like a flower, and is cut down: he goes in flight like a shade, and is never seen again.

^{3 Ref} Is it on such a one as this that your eyes are fixed, with the purpose of judging him?

^{4 Ref} If only a clean thing might come out of an unclean! But it is not possible.

^{5 Ref} If his days are ordered, and you have knowledge of the number of his months, having given him a fixed limit past which he may not go;

^{6 Ref} Let your eyes be turned away from him, and take your hand from him, so that he may have pleasure at the end of his day, like a servant working for payment.

^{7 Ref} For there is hope of a tree; if it is cut down, it will come to life again, and its branches will not come to an end.

^{8 Ref} Though its root may be old in the earth, and its cut-off end may be dead in the dust;

^{9 Ref} Still, at the smell of water, it will make buds, and put out branches like a young plant.

^{10 Ref} But man comes to his death and is gone: he gives up his spirit, and where is he?

^{11 Ref} The waters go from a pool, and a river becomes waste and dry;

^{12 Ref} So man goes down to his last resting-place and comes not again: till the heavens come to an end, they will not be awake or come out of their sleep.

^{13 Ref} If only you would keep me safe in the underworld, putting me in a secret place till your wrath is past, giving me a fixed time when I might come to your memory again!

^{14 Ref} If death takes a man, will he come to life again? All the days of my trouble I would be waiting, till the time came for me to be free.

^{15 Ref} At the sound of your voice I would give an answer, and you would have a desire for the work of your hands.

^{16 Ref} For now my steps are numbered by you, and my sin is not overlooked.

^{17 Ref} My wrongdoing is corded up in a bag, and my sin is shut up safe.

^{18 Ref} But truly a mountain falling comes to dust, and a rock is moved from its place;

^{19 Ref} The stones are crushed small by the force of the waters; the dust of the earth is washed away by their overflowing: and so you put an end to the hope of man.

^{20 Ref} You overcome him for ever, and he is gone; his face is changed in death, and you send him away.

^{21 Ref} His sons come to honour, and he has no knowledge of it; they are made low, but he is not conscious of it.

^{22 Ref} Only his flesh still has pain, and his soul is sad.

^{1 Ref} Man, born of woman! Of few days, and full of trouble!

^{2 Ref} As a flower he hath gone forth, and is cut off, And he fleeth as a shadow and standeth not.

^{3 Ref} Also -- on this Thou hast opened Thine eyes, And dost bring me into judgment with Thee.

^{4 Ref} Who giveth a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

^{5 Ref} If determined are his days, The number of his months `are' with Thee, His limit Thou hast made, And he passeth not over;

^{6 Ref} Look away from off him that he may cease, Till he enjoy as an hireling his day.

^{7 Ref} For there is of a tree hope, if it be cut down, That again it doth change, That its tender branch doth not cease.

^{8 Ref} If its root becometh old in the earth, And its stem doth die in the dust,

^{9 Ref} From the fragrance of water it doth flourish, And hath made a crop as a plant.

^{10 Ref} And a man dieth, and becometh weak, And man expireth, and where `is' he?

^{11 Ref} Waters have gone away from a sea, And a river becometh waste and dry.

^{12 Ref} And man hath lain down, and riseth not, Till the wearing out of the heavens they awake not, Nor are roused from their sleep.

^{13 Ref} O that in Sheol Thou wouldst conceal me, Hide me till the turning of Thine anger, Set for me a limit, and remember me.

^{14 Ref} If a man dieth -- doth he revive? All days of my warfare I wait, till my change come.

^{15 Ref} Thou dost call, and I -- I answer Thee; To the work of Thy hands Thou hast desire.

^{16 Ref} But now, my steps Thou numberest, Thou dost not watch over my sin.

^{17 Ref} Sealed up in a bag `is' my transgression, And Thou sewest up mine iniquity.

^{18 Ref} And yet, a falling mountain wasteth away, And a rock is removed from its place.

^{19 Ref} Stones have waters worn away, Their outpourings wash away the dust of earth, And the hope of man Thou hast destroyed.

^{20 Ref} Thou prevailest `over' him for ever, and he goeth, He is changing his countenance, And Thou sendest him away.

^{21 Ref} Honoured are his sons, and he knoweth not; And they are little, and he attendeth not to them.

^{22 Ref} Only -- his flesh for him is pained, And his soul for him doth mourn.'