Chapter 14
1 " Man , who is born of a woman , is of few days , and full of trouble .
2 He grows up like a flower , and is cut down . He also flees like a shadow , and doesn’t continue .
3 Do you open your eyes on such a one , and bring me into judgment with you ?
4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean ? Not one .
5 Seeing his days are determined , the number of his months is with you , and you have appointed his bounds that he can ’t pass .
6 Look away from him , that he may rest , until he accomplishes, as a hireling , his day .
7 " For there is hope for a tree if it is cut down , that it will sprout again , that the tender branch of it will not cease .
8 Though its root grows old in the earth , and its stock dies in the ground ,
9 yet through the scent of water it will bud , and sprout boughs like a plant .
10 But man dies , and is laid low. Yes, man gives up the spirit, and where is he?
11 As the waters fail from the sea , and the river wastes and dries up ,
12 so man lies down and doesn’t rise . Until the heavens are no more , they will not awake , nor be roused out of their sleep .
13 " Oh that you would hide me in Sheol , that you would keep me secret until your wrath is past , that you would appoint me a set time and remember me !
14 If a man dies , will he live again? I would wait all the days of my warfare , until my release should come .
15 You would call , and I would answer you . You would have a desire for the work of your hands .
16 But now you count my steps . Don’t you watch over my sin ?
17 My disobedience is sealed up in a bag . You fasten up my iniquity .
18 "But the mountain falling comes to nothing. The rock is removed out of its place .
19 The waters wear the stones. The torrents of it wash away the dust of the earth . So you destroy the hope of man.
20 You forever prevail against him , and he departs . You change his face , and send him away .
21 His sons come to honor , and he doesn’t know it . They are brought low , but he doesn’t perceive it of them .
22 But his flesh on him has pain , and his soul within him mourns."