CHAPTER 14
13:28And man wears away like rot,
like a garment eaten by moths.
1Man born of woman,
scant of days and sated with trouble,
2like a blossom he comes forth and withers,
and flees like a shadow—he will not stay.
3 Even on such You cast Your eye,
and me You bring in judgment with You?
4[Who can make the impure pure?
No one.]
5Oh, his days are decreed,
the number of his months are with You,
his limits You fixed that he cannot pass.
6Turn away from him that he may cease,
until he serves out his day like a hired man.
7 For a tree has hope:
though cut down, it can still be removed,
and its shoots will not cease.
8Though its root grow old in the ground
and its stock die in the dust,
9 from the scent of water it flowers,
and puts forth branches like a sapling.
10 But a strong man dies defeated,
man breathes his last, and where is he?
11Water runs out from a lake,
and a river is parched and dries up,
12but a man lies down and will not arise,
till the sky is no more he will not awake
and will not rouse from his sleep.
13Would that You hid me in Sheol,
concealed me till Your anger passed,
set me a limit and recalled me.
14If a man dies will he live?
All my hard service days I shall hope
15Call out and I shall answer you,
for the work of Your hand You should yearn.
16 For then You would count my steps,
You would not keep watch over my offense.
17My crime would be sealed in a packet,
You would plaster over my guilt.
18And yet, a falling mountain crumbles,
a rock is ripped from its place.
19Water wears away stones,
its surge sweeps up the dust of the earth,
and the hope of man You destroy.
20You overwhelm him forever, and he goes off,
You change his face and send him away.
21If his sons grow great, he will not know.
And should they dwindle, he will not notice them.
22 But the flesh upon him will ache,
his own being will mourn for him.