"A human being born of a woman [is] short of days and full of troubles.

You would call, and I myself would answer you; you would long for the work of your hand.

For then you would count my steps, [but] you would not keep watch over my sin.

My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and you would cover over my guilt.

"But a mountain falls; it crumbles away, and a rock moves away from its place.

His children may [come to] honor, but he does not know [it]; or they may become lowly, but he does not realize it.

He feels only the pain of his own body, and his inner self mourns for him."

Water wears away stones; its torrents wash away [the] soil of [the] earth; so you destroy the hope of human beings.

You overpower him forever, and he passes away; [you] change {his countenance}, {then} you send him away.

"Who can bring a clean [thing] from an unclean [thing]? No one!

If a man dies, will he live [again]? All the days of my compulsory service I will wait, until the coming of my relief.

"Indeed, there is hope for a tree: if it is cut down, then it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not cease;

If his days [are] determined, the number of his months [is] with you; you have appointed his boundaries, and he cannot cross [them].

{so} a man lies down, and he does not arise. {Until the heavens are no more}, they will not awaken, and they will not be roused out of their sleep.

Like a flower he comes up, and he withers away; and he flees like a shadow, but he does not last.

"But a man dies, and he dwindles away; thus a human being passes away, and where is he?

"{O that} you would conceal me in Sheol, [that] you would hide me {until your wrath is past}, [that] you would appoint a set time for me and remember me.

Look away from him, and let him desist until he enjoys his days like a laborer.

[As] water disappears from a lake, and a river withers away and dries up,

Even on such a one you fix your eyes, and you bring me into judgment with you.

though its root grows old in the earth, and its stump dies in the dust,

at the scent of water it will bud, and it will put forth branches like a young plant.