Study Desk

"^(C1)Man, who is born of woman, Is ^(F1)short-lived and ^(C2)full of turmoil.

-"^(C1)Like a flower he comes out and withers. He also flees like ^(C2)a shadow and does not remain.

-"You also ^(C1)open Your eyes on him And ^(C2)bring ^(F1)him into judgment with Yourself.

-"^(C1)Who can make the clean out of the unclean? No one!

-"Since his days are determined, The ^(C1)number of his months is with You; And You have ^(F1)set his limits so that he cannot pass.

-"^(C1)Look away from him so that he may ^(F1)rest, Until he ^(F2)fulfills his day like a hired worker.

"For there is hope for a tree, When it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And its shoots will not ^(F1)fail.

-"Though its roots grow old in the ground, And its stump dies in the dry soil,

At the scent of water it will flourish And produce sprigs like a plant.

-"But ^(C1)a man dies and lies prostrate. A person ^(C2)passes away, and where is he?

-"As ^(C1)water ^(F1)evaporates from the sea, And a river becomes parched and dried up,

So ^(C1)a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens no longer exist, ^(F1)He will not awake nor be woken from ^(F2)his sleep.

"Oh that You would hide me in ^(F1)Sheol, That You would conceal me ^(C1)until Your wrath returns to You, That You would set a limit for me and remember me!

-"If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my relief comes.

-"You will call, and I will answer You; You will long for ^(C1)the work of Your hands.

-"For now You ^(C1)number my steps, You do not ^(C2)observe my sin.

-"My wrongdoing is ^(C1)sealed up in a bag, And You cover over my ^(F1)guilt.

"But the falling mountain ^(F1)crumbles away, And the rock moves from its place;

Water wears away stones, Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth; So You ^(C1)destroy a man's hope.

-"You forever overpower him and he ^(C1)departs; You change his appearance and send him away.

-"His sons achieve honor, but ^(C1)he does not know it; Or they become insignificant, and he does not perceive it.

-"However, his ^(F1)body pains him, And his soul mourns for himself."