14:1 “Man, who is born of woman,
Is ①short-lived and full of turmoil.
▷ ①Lit short of days
14:2 Like a flower he comes out and withers.
He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.
14:3 You also open Your eyes on him
And bring ①him into judgment with Yourself.
▷ ①As in some ancient versions; MT me
14:4 Who can make the clean out of the unclean?
No one!
14:5 Since his days are determined,
The number of his months is with You;
And You have ①set his limits so that he cannot pass.
▷ ①Lit made
14:6 Look away from him so that he may ①rest,
Until he ②fulfills his day like a hired worker.
▷ ①Lit cease ②Lit makes acceptable
14:7 “For there is hope for a tree,
When it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
And its shoots will not ①fail.
▷ ①Or cease
14:8 Though its roots grow old in the ground,
And its stump dies in the dry soil,
14:9 At the scent of water it will flourish
And produce sprigs like a plant.
14:10 But a man dies and lies prostrate.
A person passes away, and where is he?
14:11 As water ①evaporates from the sea,
And a river becomes parched and dried up,
▷ ①Lit disappears
14:12 So a man lies down and does not rise.
Until the heavens no longer exist,
①He will not awake nor be woken from ②his sleep.
▷ ①Lit They ②Lit their
14:13 “Oh that You would hide me in ①Sheol,
That You would conceal me until Your wrath returns to You,
That You would set a limit for me and remember me!
▷ ①I.e., the netherworld
14:14 If a man dies, will he live again?
All the days of my struggle I will wait
Until my relief comes.
14:15 You will call, and I will answer You;
You will long for the work of Your hands.
14:16 For now You number my steps,
You do not observe my sin.
14:17 My wrongdoing is sealed up in a bag,
And You cover over my ①guilt.
▷ ①Or unjust deed
14:18 “But the falling mountain ①crumbles away,
And the rock moves from its place;
▷ ①Lit withers
14:19 Water wears away stones,
Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth;
So You destroy a man’s hope.
14:20 You forever overpower him and he departs;
You change his appearance and send him away.
14:21 His sons achieve honor, but he does not know it;
Or they become insignificant, and he does not perceive it.
14:22 However, his ①body pains him,
And his soul mourns for himself.”
▷ ①Lit flesh