^1. «MAN, who is born of woman, Is [1] short-lived and full of turmoil.

^2. « Like a flower he comes forth and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.

^3. «You also open Your eyes on him And bring [2] him into judgment with Yourself.

^4. « Who can make the clean out of the unclean? No one!

^5. «Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; And his limits You have [3] set so that he cannot pass.

^6. « Turn Your gaze from him that he may [5] rest, Until he [4] fulfills his day like a hired man.

^7. «For there is hope for a tree, When it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And its shoots will not [6] fail.

^8. «Though its roots grow old in the ground And its stump dies in the dry soil,

^9. At the scent of water it will flourish And put forth sprigs like a plant.

^10. «But man dies and lies prostrate. Man expires, and where is he?

^11. «As water [7] evaporates from the sea, And a river becomes parched and dried up,

^12. So man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no longer, [9] He will not awake nor be aroused out of [8] his sleep.

^13. «Oh that You would hide me in [10] Sheol, That You would conceal me until Your wrath returns to You, That You would set a limit for me and remember me!

^14. «If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my change comes.

^15. «You will call, and I will answer You; You will long for the work of Your hands.

^16. «For now You number my steps, You do not observe my sin.

^17. «My transgression is sealed up in a bag, And You [11] wrap up my iniquity.

^18. «But the falling mountain [12] crumbles away, And the rock moves from its place;

^19. Water wears away stones, Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth; So You destroy man's hope.

^20. «You forever overpower him and he departs; You change his appearance and send him away.

^21. «His sons achieve honor, but he does not know it; Or they become insignificant, but he does not perceive it.

^22. «But his [13] body pains him, And he mourns only for himself.»