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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.