Chapter 14

1

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

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

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.

8

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

9

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

10

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

11

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

12

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

13

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!

14

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

15

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

16

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

17

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

18

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

19

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.

20

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

21

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

22

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