⁷ “For there is hope for a tree,
When it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
And its shoots will not ^[f]fail.
⁸ Though its roots grow old in the ground,
And its stump dies in the dry soil,
⁹ At the scent of water it will flourish
And produce sprigs like a plant.
¹⁰ But ^(J)a man dies and lies prostrate.
A person ^(K)passes away, and where is he?
¹¹ As ^(L)water ^[g]evaporates from the sea,
And a river becomes parched and dried up,
¹² So ^(M)a man lies down and does not rise.
Until the heavens no longer exist,
^[h]He will not awake nor be woken from ^[i]his sleep.

¹³ “Oh that You would hide me in ^[j]Sheol,
That You would conceal me ^(N)until Your wrath returns to You,
That You would set a limit for me and remember me!
¹⁴ If a man dies, will he live again?
All the days of my struggle I will wait
Until my relief comes.
¹⁵ You will call, and I will answer You;
You will long for ^(O)the work of Your hands.
¹⁶ For now You ^(P)number my steps,
You do not ^(Q)observe my sin.
¹⁷ My wrongdoing is ^(R)sealed up in a bag,
And You cover over my ^[k]guilt.

¹⁸ “But the falling mountain ^[l]crumbles away,
And the rock moves from its place;
¹⁹ Water wears away stones,
Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth;
So You ^(S)destroy a man’s hope.
²⁰ You forever overpower him and he ^(T)departs;
You change his appearance and send him away.
²¹ His sons achieve honor, but ^(U)he does not know it;
Or they become insignificant, and he does not perceive it.
²² However, his ^[m]body pains him,
And his soul mourns for himself.”