14 Man
that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. 2 He
cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow,
and continueth not. 3 And
doth thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment
with thee? 4 Who
can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. 5 Seeing
his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou
hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; 6 Turn
from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling,
his day. 7 For
there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again,
and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 8 Though
the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the
ground; 9 Yet
through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a
plant. 10 But
man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is
he? 11 As
the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:
12
So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall
not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. 13 O that
thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until
thy wrath 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 appointed time will I
wait, till my change come. 15 Thou
shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work
of thine 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 sewest up mine iniquity. 18 And
surely the mountains falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out
of his place. 19 The
waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the
dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man. 20 Thou
prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance,
and sendest him away. 21 His
sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but
he perceiveth it not of them. 22 But
his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.