1A human, born of woman, is short of days and full of turmoil.
2Like a flower he comes forth and withers; he flees like a shadow and does not endure.
3Indeed, on such a one you fix your eyes, and me you bring into judgment with you.
4Who can bring the clean from the unclean? Not one!
5Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with you; you have set his limit, and he cannot pass beyond it.
6Look away from him, that he may rest, until he takes pleasure in his day like a hired worker.
7For there is hope for a tree: if it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its shoots will not cease.
8Though its root grows old in the earth and its stump dies in the dust,
9at the scent of water it will bud and put forth branches like a new plant.
10But a man dies and is laid low; a human breathes his last, and where is he?
11As waters vanish from a sea, and a river wastes away and dries up,
12so a man lies down and does not rise; until the heavens are no more, they will not awake, nor be roused from their sleep.
13If only you would hide me in Sheol, conceal me until your anger turns back, set me a limit and then remember me!
14If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, until my relief should come.
15You would call, and I would answer you; you would long for the work of your hands.
16For then you would count my steps; you would not keep watch over my sin.
17My transgression would be sealed up in a bag, and you would cover over my iniquity.
18But truly, a falling mountain crumbles away, and a rock is moved from its place;
19waters wear away stones, its floods wash away the soil of the earth; so you destroy the hope of humankind.
20You overpower him forever, and he passes on; you change his face and send him away.
21His sons come to honor, and he does not know it; they are brought low, and he perceives nothing of them.
22Only his own flesh, upon him, feels pain, and his own self, over him, mourns.
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