Chapter 14

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

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

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

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

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  Seeing his days [are] determined, the number of his months [are] with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;  

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  Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.  

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

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  Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;  

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

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  But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where [is] he?  

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  [As] the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:  

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  So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens [be] no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.  

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  O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath 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 appointed time will I wait, till my change come.  

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  Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine 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 sewest up mine iniquity.  

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  And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.  

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  The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow [out] of 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: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.  

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  His sons come to honour, and he knoweth [it] not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth [it] not of them.  

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  But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.  

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