English Standard Version ESV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.
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"A mortal, born of woman, few of days and full of trouble,
2 He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.
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comes up like a flower and withers, flees like a shadow and does not last.
3 And do you open your eyes on such a one and bring me into judgment with you?
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Do you fix your eyes on such a one? Do you bring me into judgment with you?
4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? There is not one.
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Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one can.
5 Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,
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Since their days are determined, and the number of their months is known to you, and you have appointed the bounds that they cannot pass,
6 look away from him and leave him alone, that he may enjoy, like a hired hand, his day.
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look away from them, and desist, that they may enjoy, like laborers, their days.
7 “For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.
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"For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.
8 Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil,
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Though its root grows old in the earth, and its stump dies in the ground,
9 yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant.
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yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth branches like a young plant.
10 But a man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he?
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But mortals die, and are laid low; humans expire, and where are they?
11 As waters fail from a lake and a river wastes away and dries up,
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As waters fail from a lake, and a river wastes away and dries up,
12 so a man lies down and rises not again; till the heavens are no more he will not awake or be roused out of his sleep.
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so mortals lie down and do not rise again; until the heavens are no more, they will not awake or be roused out of their sleep.
13 Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would conceal me until your wrath be past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
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O that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would conceal me until your wrath is past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
14 If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come.
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If mortals die, will they live again? All the days of my service I would wait until my release should come.
15 You would call, and I would answer you; you would long for the work of your hands.
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You would call, and I would answer you; you would long for the work of your hands.
16 For then you would number my steps; you would not keep watch over my sin;
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For then you would not number my steps, you would not keep watch over my sin;
17 my transgression would be sealed up in a bag, and you would cover over my iniquity.
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my transgression would be sealed up in a bag, and you would cover over my iniquity.
18 “But the mountain falls and crumbles away, and the rock is removed from its place;
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"But the mountain falls and crumbles away, and the rock is removed from its place;
19 the waters wear away the stones; the torrents wash away the soil of the earth; so you destroy the hope of man.
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the waters wear away the stones; the torrents wash away the soil of the earth; so you destroy the hope of mortals.
20 You prevail forever against him, and he passes; you change his countenance, and send him away.
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You prevail forever against them, and they pass away; you change their countenance, and send them away.
21 His sons come to honor, and he does not know it; they are brought low, and he perceives it not.
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Their children come to honor, and they do not know it; they are brought low, and it goes unnoticed.
22 He feels only the pain of his own body, and he mourns only for himself. ”
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They feel only the pain of their own bodies, and mourn only for themselves."
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.