But God was merciful to his people. He forgave their sin and did not destroy them. Many times he held back his anger and restrained his fury.

He remembered that they were only mortal beings, like a wind that blows by and is gone.

Remember how short my life is; remember that you created all of us mortal!

You will have to work hard and sweat to make the soil produce anything, until you go back to the soil from which you were formed. You were made from soil, and you will become soil again."

My body is full of worms; it is covered with scabs; pus runs out of my sores.

Remember, O God, my life is only a breath; my happiness has already ended.

Remember that you made me from clay; are you going to crush me back to dust?

Are you trying to frighten me? I'm nothing but a leaf; you are attacking a piece of dry straw.

Our bodies will return to the dust of the earth, and the breath of life will go back to God, who gave it to us.