1“Man who is born of woman
Is of few days and full of 14:1 turmoiltrouble.
2He comes forth like a flower and fades away;
He flees like a shadow and does not continue.
3And do You open Your eyes on such a one,
And bring 14:3 LXX, Syr., Vg. himme to judgment with Yourself?
4Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?
No one!
5Since his days are determined,
The number of his months is with You;
You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.
6Look away from him that he may 14:6 Lit. ceaserest,
Till like a hired man he finishes his day.
7“For there is hope for a tree,
If it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
And that its tender shoots will not cease.
8Though its root may grow old in the earth,
And its stump may die in the ground,
9Yet at the scent of water it will bud
And bring forth branches like a plant.
10But man dies and 14:10 lies prostrateis laid away;
Indeed he 14:10 expiresbreathes his last
And where is he?
11As water disappears from the sea,
And a river becomes parched and dries up,
12So man lies down and does not rise.
Till the heavens are no more,
They will not awake
Nor be roused from their sleep.
13“Oh, that You would hide me in the grave,
That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past,
That You would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
14If a man dies, shall he live again?
All the days of my hard service I will wait,
Till my change comes.
15You shall call, and I will answer You;
You shall desire the work of Your hands.
16For now You number my steps,
But do not watch over my sin.
17My transgression is sealed up in a bag,
And You 14:17 Lit. plaster overcover my iniquity.
And as a rock is moved from its place;
19As water wears away stones,
And as torrents wash away the soil of the earth;
So You destroy the hope of man.
20You prevail forever against him, and he passes on;
You change his countenance and send him away.
21His sons come to honor, and he does not know it;
They are brought low, and he does not perceive it.
22But his flesh will be in pain over it,
And his soul will mourn over it.”
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.