If a Man Dies, Will He Live Again?

1“Man, who is born of woman,

Is [†]short-lived and full of turmoil.

2Like a flower he comes forth and withers.

He also flees like a shadow and does not stand.

3You also open Your eyes on him

And bring [†]me into judgment with Yourself.

4Who can make the clean out of the unclean?

No one!

5Since his days are determined,

The number of his months is with You;

And his limits You have [†]set so that he cannot pass.

6Turn Your gaze from him that he may cease from toil,

Until he accepts his day like a hired man.

7“For there is hope for a tree,

When it is cut down, that it will change back sprouting again,

And its shoots will not cease.

8Though its roots grow old in the ground

And its stump dies in the dry soil,

9At the scent of water it will flourish

And put forth sprigs like a plant.

10But man dies and lies prostrate.

Man breathes his last, and where is he?

11As water [†]evaporates from the sea,

And a river becomes parched and dried up,

12So man lies down and does not rise.

Until the heavens are no longer,

[†]He will not awake nor be aroused out of [†]his sleep.

13“Oh that You would conceal me in Sheol,

That You would hide me until Your anger returns to You,

That You would set a limit for me and remember me!

14If a man dies, will he live again?

All the days of my labor I will wait

Until my change comes.

15You will call, and I will answer You;

You will long for the work of Your hands.

16For now You number my steps,

You do not keep watch over my sin.

17My transgression is sealed up in a bag,

And You [†]cover up my iniquity.

18“But the falling mountain [†]crumbles away,

And the rock moves from its place;

19Water wears away stones;

Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth;

So You make man’s hope perish.

20You forever overpower him and he goes away;

You alter his appearance and send him away.

21His sons achieve honor, but he does not know it;

Or they become insignificant, but he does not perceive it.

22But his flesh pains him,

And he mourns only for himself.”