Chapter 14

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

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  He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; and he fleeth as a shadow, and continueth not.  

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  Yet dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?  

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  Who can bring a clean [man] out of the unclean? Not one!  

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  If his days are determined, if the number of his months is with thee, [and] thou hast appointed his bounds which he must not pass,  

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  Look away from him; and let him rest, till he accomplish, as a hireling, his day.  

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  For there is hope for a tree: if it be cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender branch will not cease;  

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

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  Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and put forth boughs like a young plant.  

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  But a man dieth, and is prostrate; yea, man expireth, and where is he?  

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  The waters recede from the lake, and the river wasteth and drieth up:  

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  So man lieth down, and riseth not again; till the heavens be no more, they do not awake, nor are raised out of their sleep.  

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  Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, that thou wouldest keep me secret until thine anger be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me, --  

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  (If a man die, shall he live [again]?) all the days of my time of toil would I wait, till my change should come:  

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  Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee; thou wouldest have a desire after the work of thy hands.  

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  For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?  

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  My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou heapest up mine iniquity.  

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  And indeed a mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of its place;  

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  The waters wear the stones, the floods thereof wash away the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.  

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  Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth away; thou changest his countenance, and dismissest him.  

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  His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, and he perceiveth it not.  

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  But his flesh hath pain for himself alone, and his soul mourneth for himself.  

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