1. 人为妇人所生，日子短少，饱受烦扰； Man, born of woman, Is of few days and full of trouble.
2. 他长出如花，又被割下；他飞去如影，不能存留。 He comes forth like a blossom and is cut down, He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.
3. 这样的人你岂睁眼看他，又叫我来与你争讼么？ And do You open Your eyes upon such a one And bring me into litigation with You?
4. 谁能使洁净之物出于污秽之中？谁也不能！ Who can bring a clean thing out from the unclean? No one!
5. 人的日子既然限定，他的月数在你那里；你既然制定他的界限，使他不能越过； Since his days are determined, And the number of his months is with You; Since You have appointed his bounds, and he cannot go beyond;
6. 便求你转眼不看他，使他得歇息，直等他像雇工完毕他的日子。 Look away from him that he may rest, Until he fulfills his day like a hired hand.
7. 树木若被砍下，还可指望再发芽，嫩枝生长不息。 For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, And its tender shoot will not cease.
8. 其根虽然衰老在地里，干也死在土中， Though its root grows old in the earth, And its trunk dies in the dirt,
9. 及至得了水气，还要发芽，又长枝条，像新栽的树一样。 At the scent of water it will bud And will produce branches like a new plant.
10. 但人死了就倒下；人气绝后，究竟在那里呢？ But a man dies and is laid low; Yes, a man expires, and then where is he?
11. 海中的水退尽，江河枯竭干涸； The waters of the sea recede, And the river becomes parched and dried up:
12. 人也是如此，躺下不再起来，直到天不再有了，仍不得复醒，也不得从睡中唤醒。 So a man lies down and does not rise up; Until the heavens are no more, he will not awake, Nor will he be roused from his sleep.
13. 惟愿你把我藏在阴间，愿你将我隐藏，等你的怒气转消，愿你为我定下日期，并记念我！ Oh that You would hide me in Sheol, That You would conceal me until Your anger has passed, That You would set me an appointed time and remember me!
14. 人若死了，岂能再活？我只要在我一切劳役的日子等候，直到我被替换的时候来到。 If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, Until a change for me should come.
15. 你呼叫，我便回答；你手所作的，你必羡慕。 You would call, and I would answer You; You would long after the work of Your hands.
16. 但如今你数点我的脚步，岂不察看我的罪么？ For now You number my steps. Do You not watch over my sin?
17. 我的过犯被你封在囊中，你也缝严了我的罪孽。 My transgression has been sealed up in a bag, And You have fastened up my iniquity.
18. 但山崩塌溃碎，磐石挪开原处； However the mountain falls and crumbles, And the rock moves from its place;
19. 流水消磨石头；所流溢的，洗去地上的尘土：你也照样灭绝人的指望。 Waters wear away stones; Their torrents wash away the dust of the earth: So You destroy the hope of man.
20. 你永远胜过人，人就去世；你改变他的容貌，遣他离去。 You prevail forever against him, and he passes away; You change his countenance and send him away.
21. 他的子孙得尊荣，他也不知道；降为卑微，他也不觉得。 His sons gain honor, but he does not know it; And they become insignificant, but he does not perceive it.
22. 他只觉得自己肉身的疼痛，他的魂只为自己悲哀。 Only the pain of his own flesh does he feel, And his own soul mourns for him.