Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

[Is not] man born of woman, short of days and full of vexation?

He comes forth like a flower, and is cut down: he flees also like a shadow, and does not endure.

As a blossom that blows and is cut off, fleeting as a shadow that does not stand.

And dost Thou open Thy eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into judgment with Thee?

On this, too, You have cast Your eye [in judgment], and [even] me You have brought into judgment with You [(for my sins)].

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

Can pure [(one wholly free of sin)] emerge from impure? — not one!

Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with Thee, Thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

[(Is a man not simply requited for his sins)] if his days are circumscribed [(unto death)], if the number of his months is [fixed] with You? You have set his limit, which he cannot pass.

turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.

Leave off [afflicting] him, then, and let it [(his pain)] cease, until as a hired laborer [(who desires the end of his working day)], he desires his day [of death]. [(For there is more finality in his passing than in that of all other things:)]

For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender branch will not cease.

For a tree has hope, though it is cut off. It will renew itself, and its young branches will not cease.

Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stock die in the ground;

Though its root grow old in the earth and its stock die in the dust,

yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.

the [very] scent of water will cause it to bloom, and it will sprout branches like a sapling.

But man dies, and is laid low; yea, man perishes, and where is he?

But when a man dies, he is sapped. When a man expires, where is he?

The waters fail from the sea, and the river is parched, and dries up:

When the waters leave the sea, will the river [(which comes from the sea)] not be parched, and dry up?

but man lies down, and does not rise: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

So a man will lie down and not rise. Until the heavens are worn away, they [(men)] will not awaken and they will not rise up from their sleep.

O that Thou wouldst hide me in She᾽ol, that Thou wouldst keep me secret, until Thy wrath is past, that Thou wouldst appoint me a set time, and remember me!

Would that [(when You were angry with me)] You hid me in the grave, concealed me until Your wrath were turned, set me a time and remembered me.

If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my service I should wait, until my reward should come.

When a man dies, will he live [again]? Then all the days of my time [on this earth] I would hope [to live] until [the time of] my passing came.

Thou shouldst call, and I would answer Thee: Thou shouldst have a desire to the work of Thy hands.

Call [me (to reprove me)] and I will answer You. Desire the work of Your hands.

For now Thou numberest my steps: dost Thou not watch for my sin?

But now You count [all of] my steps and You do not delay [(the payment)] for my sin.

My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and Thou dost daub my iniquity with wax.

My offense is tied in a knot [(that it not go lost)] and it is joined to my transgression.

And surely the mountain falling crumbles away, and the rock is removed out of its place.

[Even] a fallen mountain will [crumble and] produce vegetation, as will a rock dislodged from its place.

The waters wear the stones: the torrents wash away the dust of the earth; so Thou destroyest the hope of man.

Stones worn down by water — its crumblings are flooded over [to become] dust of the earth [(from which vegetation later sprouts)]. But the hope of man is [completely] lost [with his death].

Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passes: Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.

You overpower him for eternity and he passes on. You change his face and send him away.

His sons come to honour, and he knows it not; and they are brought low, but he perceives them not.

If his sons are "weighted" [(with wealth)], he will not know it; if they are reduced, he will not perceive it.

Only when his flesh is on him does he feel pain, and while his soul is within him does he mourn.

Only the flesh upon him [(fed on by the maggots)] will [(smart in)] pain, and his soul will mourn over him.