5. If our days are fixed, the number of our months with you,you set a statute and we can’t exceed it.
6. Look away from us that we may rest,until we are satisfied like a worker at day’s end.
7. Indeed there is hope for a tree.If it’s cut down and still sproutingand its shoots don’t fail,
8. if its roots age in the groundand its stump dies in the dust,
9. at the scent of water, it will budand produce sprouts like a plant.
10. But a human dies and lies there;a person expires, and where is he?
11. Water vanishes from the sea;a river dries up completely.
12. But a human lies down and doesn’t riseuntil the heavens cease;they don’t get up and awaken from sleep.
13. I wish you would hide me in the underworld,conceal me until your anger passes,set a time for me, and remember me.
14. If people die, will they live again?All the days of my service I would waituntil my restoration took place.
15. You would call, and I would answer you;you would long for your handiwork.
16. Though you now number my steps,you would not keep a record of my sin.
17. My rebellion is sealed in a bag;you would cover my sin.
18. But an eroding mountain breaks up,and rock is displaced.