1الانسان مولود المرأة قليل الايام وشبعان تعبا.
1Man, born of woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.
2يخرج كالزهر ثم ينحسم ويبرح كالظل ولا يقف.
2He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; and he fleeth as a shadow, and continueth not.
3فعلى مثل هذا حدقت عينيك واياي احضرت الى المحاكمة معك.
3Yet dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
4من يخرج الطاهر من النجس. لا احد.
4Who can bring a clean [man] out of the unclean? Not one!
5ان كانت ايامه محدودة وعدد اشهره عندك وقد عينت اجله فلا يتجاوزه
5If his days are determined, if the number of his months is with thee, [and] thou hast appointed his bounds which he must not pass,
6فاقصر عنه ليسترح الى ان يسرّ كالاجير بانتهاء يومه
6Look away from him; and let him rest, till he accomplish, as a hireling, his day.
7لان للشجرة رجاء. ان قطعت تخلف ايضا ولا تعدم خراعيبها.
7For there is hope for a tree: if it be cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender branch will not cease;
8ولو قدم في الارض اصلها ومات في التراب جذعها
8Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stock die in the ground,
9فمن رائحة الماء تفرخ وتنبت فروعا كالغرس.
9Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and put forth boughs like a young plant.
10اما الرجل فيموت ويبلى. الانسان يسلم الروح فاين هو.
10But a man dieth, and is prostrate; yea, man expireth, and where is he?
11قد تنفد المياه من البحرة والنهر ينشف ويجف
11The waters recede from the lake, and the river wasteth and drieth up:
12والانسان يضطجع ولا يقوم. لا يستيقظون حتى لا تبقى السموات ولا ينتبهون من نومهم
12So man lieth down, and riseth not again; till the heavens be no more, they do not awake, nor are raised out of their sleep.
13ليتك تواريني في الهاوية وتخفيني الى ان ينصرف غضبك وتعيّن لي اجلا فتذكرني.
13Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, that thou wouldest keep me secret until thine anger be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me, --
14ان مات رجل أفيحيا. كل ايام جهادي اصبر الى ان يأتي بدلي.
14(If a man die, shall he live [again]?) all the days of my time of toil would I wait, till my change should come:
15تدعو فانا اجيبك. تشتاق الى عمل يدك.
15Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee; thou wouldest have a desire after the work of thy hands.
16اما الآن فتحصي خطواتي. ألا تحافظ على خطيتي.
16For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
17معصيتي مختوم عليها في صرّة وتلفّق عليّ فوق اثمي
17My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou heapest up mine iniquity.
18ان الجبل الساقط ينتثر والصخر يزحزح من مكانه.
18And indeed a mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of its place;
19الحجارة تبليها المياه وتجرف سيولها تراب الارض. وكذلك انت تبيد رجاء الانسان.
19The waters wear the stones, the floods thereof wash away the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.
20تتجبر عليه ابدا فيذهب. تغير وجهه وتطرده.
20Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth away; thou changest his countenance, and dismissest him.
21يكرم بنوه ولا يعلم او يصغرون ولا يفهم بهم.
21His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, and he perceiveth it not.
22انما على ذاته يتوجع لحمه وعلى ذاتها تنوح نفسه
22But his flesh hath pain for himself alone, and his soul mourneth for himself.