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 an 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 are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass ; 6Turn from him, that he may rest , till he shall accomplish , as an 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 bring forth boughs like a plant . 10But man dieth , and wasteth away : yea, man giveth up the ghost , and where is he? 11As the waters fail from the sea , and the flood decayeth and drieth up : 12So man lieth down , and riseth not: till the heavens be no more , they shall not awake , nor be raised out of their sleep . 13O 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! 14If a man die , shall he live again ? all the days of my appointed time will I wait , till my change come .
The Reality of Divine Judgment
15Thou shalt call , and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands . 16For now thou numberest my steps : dost thou not watch over my sin ? 17My transgression is sealed up in a bag , and thou sewest up mine iniquity . 18And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought , and the rock is removed out of his place . 19The 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 . 20Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth : thou changest his countenance , and sendest him away . 21His sons come to honour , and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low , but he perceiveth it not of them. 22But his flesh upon him shall have pain , and his soul within him shall mourn .