1 “Man, who is born of woman, Isa Lit short of daysshort-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 bringb So with some ancient versions; M.T. mehim 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 havec Lit madeset so that he cannot pass. 6 “Turn Your gaze from him that he mayd Lit ceaserest, Until hee Lit makes acceptablefulfills 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 notf Or ceasefail. 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 waterg Lit disappearsevaporates 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, h Lit TheyHe will not awake nor be aroused out ofi Lit theirhis sleep. |
13 “Oh that You would hide me inj I.e. the nether worldSheol, 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 Youk Lit plaster; or glue togetherwrap up my iniquity. |
18 “But the falling mountainl Lit witherscrumbles 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 hism Lit fleshbody pains him, And he mourns only for himself.” |