1. They have only a few days to live. Their lives are full of trouble.
2. They grow like flowers, and then they dry up. They are like shadows that quickly disappear.
3. "God, why do you keep looking at someone like me? Are you planning to take me to court?
4. Who can bring what is pure from something that isn't pure? No one!
5. You decide how long anyone will live. You have established the number of his months. You have set a limit to the number of his days.
6. So look away from him. Leave him alone. Let him put in his time like a hired worker.
7. "At least there is hope for a tree. If it's cut down, it will begin to grow again. New branches will appear on it.
8. Its roots may grow old in the ground. Its stump may die in the soil.
9. But when it smells water, it will begin to grow. It will send out new growth like a plant.
10. No man is like that. When he dies, he is buried in a grave. He takes his last breath. Then he is gone.
11. Water disappears from lakes. Riverbeds become empty and dry.
12. In the same way, a man lies down and never gets up. He won't wake up or rise from his sleep until the heavens are gone.
13. "I wish you would hide me in a grave! I wish you would cover me up until your anger passes by! I wish you would set the time for me to spend in the grave and then bring me back up!
14. If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard work I will wait for the time when you give me new life.