¶ Man that is born¹ of a woman is of few days², and full³ of trouble.

He cometh forth like⁴ a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth⁵ also as a shadow, and continueth not.

And dost⁶ thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest⁷ me into judgment with thee?

Who can bring⁸ a clean⁹ thing out of an unclean? not one.

Seeing his days¹⁰ are determined, the number¹¹ of his months are with thee, thou hast¹² appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

Turn¹³ from him, that he may rest¹⁴, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.

¶ For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout¹⁵ again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground¹⁶;

Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring¹⁷ forth boughs like a plant.

¶ But man dieth, and wasteth away¹⁸: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he¹⁹?

As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood²⁰ decayeth and drieth up:

So man²¹ lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens²² be no more, they shall not awake²³, nor be raised out of their sleep.

O that thou wouldest hide me²⁴ in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until²⁵ thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me²⁶ a set time, and remember²⁷ me!

If a man die, shall he live²⁸ again? all the days²⁹ of my appointed time will I wait³⁰, till my change come.

Thou shalt call³¹, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have³² a desire to the work of thine hands.

¶ For now thou numberest³³ my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?

My transgression is sealed up³⁴ in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.

And surely the mountain³⁵ falling cometh to nought³⁶, and the rock is removed out of his place.

The waters³⁷ wear the stones: thou washest³⁸ away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest³⁹ the hope of man.

¶ Thou prevailest⁴⁰ for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest⁴¹ his countenance, and sendest him away.

His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not;⁴² and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

But his flesh⁴³ upon him shall have pain, and his soul⁴⁴ within him shall mourn.