"Sincehis daysare determined,The numberof his monthsis with You; And his limitsYou have setso that he cannotpass.
In whosehandis the lifeof everylivingthing,And the breathof allmankind?
"Ifa mandies,will he live[again]? Allthe daysof my struggleI will waitUntilmy changecomes.
"For when a fewyearsare past,I shall gothe wayof noreturn.
"For whatdoes he carefor his householdafterhim, When the numberof his monthsis cutoff?
"Is not manforcedto laboron earth,And [are not] his dayslike the daysof a hiredman?
You hideYour face,they are dismayed;You takeawaytheir spirit,they expireAnd returnto their dust.
You seta boundarythat they may not passover,So that they will not returnto coverthe earth.
Your eyeshave seenmy unformedsubstance;And in Your bookwere allwrittenThe daysthat were ordained[for me], When as yet there was not oneof them.
My timesare in Your hand;Deliverme from the handof my enemiesand from those who persecuteme.
"LORD,make me to knowmy endAnd whatis the extentof my days;Let me knowhowtransientI am.
A timeto givebirthand a timeto die;A timeto plantand a timeto uprootwhat is planted.
Nomanhasauthorityto restrainthe windwith the wind,or authorityover the dayof death;and thereis nodischargein the timeof war,and evilwill not deliverthose whopracticeit.
"Then the kingwill doas he pleases,and he will exaltand magnifyhimself aboveeverygodand will speakmonstrousthingsagainstthe Godof gods;and he will prosperuntilthe indignationis finished,for that which is decreedwill be done.
"Allthe inhabitantsof the earthare accountedas nothing,But He doesaccordingto His willin the hostof heavenAnd [among] the inhabitantsof earth;And noone can wardoffHis handOr sayto Him, 'Whathave You done?'
"Thisis the interpretationof the message:'MENE--Godhas numberedyour kingdomand putan endto it.
That same nightBelshazzarthe Chaldeankingwas slain.
"Seventyweekshave been decreedfor your peopleand your holycity,to finishthe transgression,to makean endof sin,to makeatonementfor iniquity,to bringin everlastingrighteousness,to sealup visionand prophecyand to anointthe mostholy[place].
"But Godsaidto him, 'You fool!This[very] nightyour soulis requiredof you; and [now] whowill own whatyou have prepared?'
and He madefrom one[man] everynationof mankindto liveon allthe faceof the earth,having determined[their] appointedtimesand the boundariesof their habitation,
And inasmuchas it is appointedfor mento dieonceand afterthis[comes] judgment,
and the livingOne; and I was dead,and behold,I amaliveforevermore,and I havethe keysof deathand of Hades.
"And to the angelof the churchin Philadelphiawrite:He who is holy,who is true,who hasthe keyof David,who opensand noonewill shut,and who shutsand no oneopens,saysthis:
Davidalso said,"As the LORDlives,surelythe LORDwill strikehim, orhis daywill comethat he dies,orhe will godowninto battleand perish.
