1Man , that is born of a woman , Is of few days , and full of trouble . 2He cometh forth like a flower , and is cut down : He fleeth also as a shadow , and continueth not . 3And dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one , And bringest me into judgment with thee ? 4Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean ? not one . 5Seeing his days are determined , The number of his months is with thee , And thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass ; 6Look away from him , that he may rest , Till he shall accomplish , as a hireling , his day .
The Hope of Resurrection
7For 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 . 8Though the root thereof wax old in the earth , And the stock thereof die in the ground ; 9Yet through the scent of water it will bud , And put forth boughs like a plant . 10But man dieth , and is laid low: Yea, man giveth up the ghost , and where is he? 11As the waters fail from the sea , And the river wasteth and drieth up ; 12So man lieth down and riseth not : Till the heavens be no more , they shall not awake , Nor be roused out of their sleep . 13Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol , That thou wouldest keep me secret , until thy wrath be past , That thou wouldest appoint me a set time , and remember me ! 14If a man die , shall he live again ? All the days of my warfare would I wait , Till my release should come .
The Reality of Divine Judgment
15Thou wouldest call , and I would answer thee : Thou wouldest have a desire to the work of thy hands . 16But now thou numberest my steps : Dost thou not watch over my sin ? 17My transgression is sealed up in a bag , And thou fastenest up mine iniquity . 18But the mountain falling cometh to nought ; And the rock is removed out of its place ; 19The waters wear the stones; The overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth : So thou destroyest the hope of man. 20Thou prevailest for ever against him , and he passeth ; Thou changest his countenance , and sendest him away . 21His sons come to honor , and he knoweth it not ; And they are brought low , but he perceiveth it not of them . 22But his flesh upon him hath pain , And his soul within him mourneth.