Job says man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. A tree that is cut down may sprout again, but man lies down and does not rise. He wishes God would hide him in the grave until his anger passes.
1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days , and full of trouble .
2 He cometh forth like a flower , and is cut down : he fleeth also as a shadow , and continueth not.
3 And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one , and bringest me into judgment with thee?
4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean ? not one .
5 Seeing his days are determined , the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass ;
6 Turn from him, that he may rest , till he shall accomplish , as an hireling , his day .
7 For there is hope of a tree , if it be cut down , that it will sprout again , and that the tender branch thereof will not cease .
8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth , and the stock thereof die in the ground ;
9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud , and bring forth boughs like a plant .
10 But man dieth , and wasteth away : yea, man giveth up the ghost , and where is he?
11 As the waters fail from the sea , and the flood decayeth and drieth up :
12 So man lieth down , and riseth not: till the heavens be no more , they shall not awake , nor be raised out of their sleep .
13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave , that thou wouldest keep me secret , until thy wrath be past , that thou wouldest appoint me a set time , and remember me!
14 If a man die , shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait , till my change come .
15 Thou shalt call , and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands .
16 For now thou numberest my steps : dost thou not watch over my sin ?
17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag , and thou sewest up mine iniquity .
18 And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought , and the rock is removed out of his place .
19 The waters wear the stones : thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth ; and thou destroyest the hope of man .
20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth : thou changest his countenance , and sendest him away .
21 His sons come to honour , and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low , but he perceiveth it not of them.
22 But his flesh upon him shall have pain , and his soul within him shall mourn .