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

“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.

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

Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.

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

Do You open Your eyes to one like this? Will You bring him into judgment before You?

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

Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!

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

Since his days are determined and the number of his months is with You, and since You have set limits that he cannot exceed,

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

look away from him and let him rest, so he can enjoy his day as a hired hand.

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.

For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail.

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

If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil,

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

at the scent of water it will bud and put forth twigs like a sapling.

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

But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?

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

As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry,

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

so a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, he will not be awakened or roused from sleep.

Oh 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!

If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me!

If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes.

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

You will call, and I will answer; You will desire the work of Your hands.

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

For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.

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

My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.

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

But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,

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.

as water wears away the stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy a man’s hope.

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

You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.

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

If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware.

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

He feels only the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.”