19  “Man is also rebuked with ^cpain on his bed

and with continual strife in his bones,

20  so that ^dhis life loathes bread,

and his appetite the choicest food.

21  ^eHis flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,

and ^fhis bones that were not seen stick out.

22  His soul draws near the pit,

and his life to those who bring death.

23  If there be for him an angel,

a mediator, one of the thousand,

to declare to man what is right for him,

24  and he is merciful to him, and says,

‘Deliver him from going down into the pit;

I have found a ransom;

25  let his flesh become fresh with youth;

let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;

26  then man¹ prays to God, and he accepts him;

he sees his face with a shout of joy,

and he restores to man his righteousness.

27  He sings before men and says:

‘I sinned and perverted what was right,

and it was not repaid to me.

28  He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit,

and my life shall look upon the light.’