Young's Literal Translation YLT
Holman Christian Standard Bible CSB
1 Man, born of woman! Of few days, and full of trouble!
1
Man born of woman is short of days and full of trouble.
2 As a flower he hath gone forth, and is cut off, And he fleeth as a shadow and standeth not.
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He blossoms like a flower, then withers; he flees like a shadow and does not last.
3 Also -- on this Thou hast opened Thine eyes, And dost bring me into judgment with Thee.
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Do You really take notice of one like this? Will You bring me into judgment against You?
4 Who giveth a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
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Who can produce something pure from what is impure? No one!
5 If determined are his days, The number of his months [are] with Thee, His limit Thou hast made, And he passeth not over;
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Since man's days are determined and the number of his months depends on You, and [since] You have set limits he cannot pass,
6 Look away from off him that he may cease, Till he enjoy as an hireling his day.
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look away from him and let him rest so that he can enjoy his day like a hired hand.
7 For there is of a tree hope, if it be cut down, That again it doth change, That its tender branch doth not cease.
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There is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its shoots will not die.
8 If its root becometh old in the earth, And its stem doth die in the dust,
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If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump starts to die in the soil,
9 From the fragrance of water it doth flourish, And hath made a crop as a plant.
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the smell of water makes it thrive and produce twigs like a sapling.
10 And a man dieth, and becometh weak, And man expireth, and where [is] he?
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But a man dies and fades away; he breathes his last-where is he?
11 Waters have gone away from a sea, And a river becometh waste and dry.
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As water disappears from the sea and a wadi becomes parched and dry,
12 And man hath lain down, and riseth not, Till the wearing out of the heavens they awake not, Nor are roused from their sleep.
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so man lies down never to rise again. They will not wake up until the heavens are no more; they will not stir from their sleep.
13 O that in Sheol Thou wouldst conceal me, Hide me till the turning of Thine anger, Set for me a limit, and remember me.
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If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger passes, that You would appoint a time for me and then remember me.
14 If a man dieth -- doth he revive? All days of my warfare I wait, till my change come.
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When a man dies, will he come back to life? [If so,] I would wait all the days of my struggle until my relief comes.
15 Thou dost call, and I -- I answer Thee; To the work of Thy hands Thou hast desire.
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You would call, and I would answer You. You would long for the work of Your hands.
16 But now, my steps Thou numberest, Thou dost not watch over my sin.
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For then You would count my steps but would not take note of my sin.
17 Sealed up in a bag [is] my transgression, And Thou sewest up mine iniquity.
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My rebellion would be sealed up in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.
18 And yet, a falling mountain wasteth away, And a rock is removed from its place.
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But as a mountain collapses and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,
19 Stones have waters worn away, Their outpourings wash away the dust of earth, And the hope of man Thou hast destroyed.
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as water wears away stones and torrents wash away the soil from the land, so You destroy a man's hope.
20 Thou prevailest [over] him for ever, and he goeth, He is changing his countenance, And Thou sendest him away.
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You completely overpower him, and he passes on; You change his appearance and send him away.
21 Honoured are his sons, and he knoweth not; And they are little, and he attendeth not to them.
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If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they become insignificant, he is unaware of it.
22 Only -- his flesh for him is pained, And his soul for him doth mourn.'
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He feels only the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.