¹⁵ Whatever is has already been,^(B)
    and what will be has been before;^(C)
    and God will call the past to account.^[a]

14 “Mortals, born of woman,^(A)
    are of few days^(B) and full of trouble.^(C)
2 They spring up like flowers^(D) and wither away;^(E)
    like fleeting shadows,^(F) they do not endure.^(G)

⁴ For the word of the Lord is right^(A) and true;^(B)
    he is faithful^(C) in all he does.

¹¹ But the plans of the Lord stand firm^(A) forever,
    the purposes^(B) of his heart through all generations.

⁵ Yet you sweep people away^(A) in the sleep of death—
    they are like the new grass of the morning:
⁶ In the morning it springs up new,
    but by evening it is dry and withered.^(B)

¹¹ My days are like the evening shadow;^(A)
    I wither^(B) away like grass.

¹⁵ The life of mortals is like grass,^(A)
    they flourish like a flower^(B) of the field;
¹⁶ the wind blows^(C) over it and it is gone,
    and its place^(D) remembers it no more.

⁶ A voice says, “Cry out.”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”

“All people are like grass,^(A)
    and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
⁷ The grass withers^(B) and the flowers fall,
    because the breath^(C) of the Lord blows^(D) on them.
    Surely the people are grass.
⁸ The grass withers and the flowers^(E) fall,
    but the word^(F) of our God endures^(G) forever.^(H)”

¹⁰ I make known the end from the beginning,^(A)
    from ancient times,^(B) what is still to come.^(C)
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,^(D)
    and I will do all that I please.’