Remembernow,that You have mademe as clay;And would You turnme into dustagain?
Then the LORDGodformedmanof dustfrom the ground,and breathedinto his nostrilsthe breathof life;and manbecamea livingbeing.
But now,O LORD,You are our Father,We are the clay,and You our potter;And allof us are the workof Your hand.
By the sweatof your faceYou will eatbread,Tillyou returnto the ground,Becausefrom it you were taken;For you are dust,And to dustyou shall return."
then the dustwill returnto the earthas it was, and the spiritwill returnto Godwhogaveit.
"CanI not, O houseof Israel,dealwith you as thispotter[does]?" declaresthe LORD."Behold,like the clayin the potter'shand,soare you in My hand,O houseof Israel.
Ordoes not the potterhavea rightover the clay,to makefrom the samelumponevesselfor honorable useand anotherfor common use?
"Woeto [the one] who quarrelswith his Maker--An earthenwarevesselamongthe vesselsof earth!Will the claysayto the potter,'Whatare you doing?'Or the thingyou are making[say], 'He hasnohands'?
Rememberme, O LORD,in [Your] favortoward Your people;Visitme with Your salvation,
You turnmanbackinto dustAnd say,"Return,O childrenof men."
Rememberwhatmy spanof lifeis; For whatvanityYou have createdallthe sonsof men!
Lookupon my afflictionand my trouble,And forgiveallmy sins.
My strengthis driedup like a potsherd,And my tonguecleavesto my jaws;And You layme in the dustof death.
If I callto the pit,'You are my father;To the worm,'my motherand my sister';
"Rememberthat my lifeis [but] breath;My eyewill not againseegood.
But we havethistreasurein earthenvessels,sothat the surpassing greatnessof the powerwill be of Godand not from ourselves;
Howmuchmorethose who dwellin housesof clay,Whosefoundationis in the dust,Who are crushedbeforethe moth!
"Whythen do You not pardonmy transgressionAnd takeawaymy iniquity?For nowI will liedownin the dust;And You will seekme, but I will not be."
Did You not pourme out like milkAnd curdleme like cheese;
"Behold,I belong to Godlike you; I toohave been formedout of the clay.
Allfleshwould perishtogether,And manwould returnto dust.
Thus He rememberedthat they were but flesh,A windthat passesand does not return.
You hideYour face,they are dismayed;You takeawaytheir spirit,they expireAnd returnto their dust.
For He Himselfknowsour frame;He is mindfulthat we are [but] dust.
Thereis noonewho callson Your name,Who arouseshimself to takeholdof You; For You have hiddenYour facefrom us And have deliveredus into the powerof our iniquities.
