Chapter 14

  Man, born of woman! Of few days, and full of trouble!  

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  As a flower he hath gone forth, and is cut off, And he fleeth as a shadow and standeth not.  

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  Also -- on this Thou hast opened Thine eyes, And dost bring me into judgment with Thee.  

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

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  If determined are his days, The number of his months [are] with Thee, His limit Thou hast made, And he passeth not over;  

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  Look away from off him that he may cease, Till he enjoy as an hireling his day.  

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  For there is of a tree hope, if it be cut down, That again it doth change, That its tender branch doth not cease.  

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  If its root becometh old in the earth, And its stem doth die in the dust,  

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  From the fragrance of water it doth flourish, And hath made a crop as a plant.  

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  And a man dieth, and becometh weak, And man expireth, and where [is] he?  

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  Waters have gone away from a sea, And a river becometh waste and dry.  

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  And man hath lain down, and riseth not, Till the wearing out of the heavens they awake not, Nor are roused from their sleep.  

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  O that in Sheol Thou wouldst conceal me, Hide me till the turning of Thine anger, Set for me a limit, and remember me.  

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  If a man dieth -- doth he revive? All days of my warfare I wait, till my change come.  

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  Thou dost call, and I -- I answer Thee; To the work of Thy hands Thou hast desire.  

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  But now, my steps Thou numberest, Thou dost not watch over my sin.  

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  Sealed up in a bag [is] my transgression, And Thou sewest up mine iniquity.  

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  And yet, a falling mountain wasteth away, And a rock is removed from its place.  

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  Stones have waters worn away, Their outpourings wash away the dust of earth, And the hope of man Thou hast destroyed.  

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  Thou prevailest [over] him for ever, and he goeth, He is changing his countenance, And Thou sendest him away.  

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  Honoured are his sons, and he knoweth not; And they are little, and he attendeth not to them.  

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  Only -- his flesh for him is pained, And his soul for him doth mourn.'  

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