14:1 “Man, born of woman, lives but a few days, and full of trouble.
14:2 He comes up like a flower and then withers away; he flees like a shadow, and does not remain.
14:3 Do you open your eye on such a one? And do you bring me before you for judgment?
14:4 Who can make a clean thing come from an unclean? No one!
14:5 Since man’s days are determined, the number of his months is under your control; you have set his limit and he cannot pass it.
14:6 Look away from him and let him desist, until he fulfills his time like a hired man.
14:7 “But there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail.
14:8 Although its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump begins to die in the soil,
14:9 at the scent of water it will flourish and put forth shoots like a new plant.
14:10 But man dies and is powerless; he expires — and where is he?
14:11 As water disappears from the sea, or a river drains away and dries up,
14:12 so man lies down and does not rise; until the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor arise from their sleep.
14:13 “O that you would hide me in Sheol, and conceal me till your anger has passed! O that you would set me a time and then remember me!
14:14 If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait until my release comes.
14:15 You will call and I — I will answer you; you will long for the creature you have made.
14:16 “Surely now you count my steps; then you would not mark my sin.