1「人為婦人所生，
一生短暫，充滿患難。
2他如花盛開，轉眼凋謝；
如影消逝，無法久留。
3你還察看這樣的世人嗎？
還要把我召來受審嗎？
4誰能使污穢產生潔淨呢？
沒有人能。
5人的年日已被限定，
你掌管他的歲月，
設定他無法逾越的界限。
6求你轉身，別去管他，
好讓他如雇工度完他的日子。
7樹木若被砍下，還有希望，
它仍可重新萌芽，
嫩枝生長不息。
8雖然樹根在土裡衰老，
樹幹在地裡死去，
9但一有水氣，
它就會像新栽的樹一樣發芽長枝。
10但人一死，就失去力量；
人一嚥氣，就不知去向。
11湖水會枯竭，
江河會乾涸，
12人躺下便不再起來，
到諸天不復存在，
他仍不會醒來，
不會從長眠中被喚醒。
13但願你把我藏在陰間，
把我藏起來直到你息怒，
定下眷顧我的日期。
14人若死了，還能復生嗎？
我要在勞苦的歲月中等待，
直到我得釋放的日子來臨。
15那時你呼喚，我便回應，
你必惦念你親手所造之物。
16那時你必鑒察我的腳步，
但不會追究我的罪惡。
17我的過犯會被封在袋中，
你會遮蓋我的罪愆。
18「高山崩塌，
磐石挪移；
19流水磨損石頭，
急流沖走泥土；
你也這樣粉碎人的希望。
20你永遠擊敗他，使他消逝；
你改變他的容顏，讓他離世。
21他的後人得尊榮，他無從知曉；
他們遭貶抑，他也無法察覺。
22他只能感受自身的痛苦，
為自己哀哭。」
1Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.14.1 few…: Heb. short of days 2He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 3And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? 4Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.14.4 can…: Heb. will give 5Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; 6Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.14.6 rest: Heb. cease
7For 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. 8Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; 9Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. 10But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?14.10 wasteth…: Heb. is weakened, or, cut off 11As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: 12So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. 13O 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! 14If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 15Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.
16For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin? 17My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity. 18And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.14.18 cometh…: Heb. fadeth 19The 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.14.19 washest…: Heb. overflowest 20Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. 21His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them. 22But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.
