Job — Chapter 17

1My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.

2Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?

3Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?

4For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.

5He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

6He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.

7Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.

8Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.

9The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

10But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.

11My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.

12They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.

13If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.

14I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.

15And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

16They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.

1My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct, The grave is [ready] for me.

2Surely there are mockers with me, And mine eye dwelleth upon their provocation.

3Give now a pledge, be surety for me with thyself; Who is there that will strike hands with me?

4For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: Therefore shalt thou not exalt [them].

5He that denounceth his friends for a prey, Even the eyes of his children shall fail.

6But he hath made me a byword of the people; And they spit in my face.

7Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, And all my members are as a shadow.

8Upright men shall be astonished at this, And the innocent shall stir up himself against the godless.

9Yet shall the righteous hold on his way, And he that hath clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger.

10But as for you all, come on now again; And I shall not find a wise man among you.

11My days are past, my purposes are broken off, Even the thoughts of my heart.

12They change the night into day: The light, [say they], is near unto the darkness.

13If I look for Sheol as my house; If I have spread my couch in the darkness;

14If I have said to corruption, Thou art my father; To the worm, [Thou art] my mother, and my sister;

15Where then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it?

16It shall go down to the bars of Sheol, When once there is rest in the dust.

1My spirit is broken, my days have faded out; the grave awaits me.

2Surely mockery is with me; my eyes must dwell on their hostility.

3Set my pledge beside you. Who else will put up security for me?

4Because you have closed their minds to understanding, therefore you will not exalt them.

5If a man denounces his friends for personal gain, the eyes of his children will fail.

6He has made me a byword to people; I am the one in whose face they spit.

7My eyes have grown dim with grief; my whole frame is but a shadow.

8Upright men are appalled at this; the innocent man is troubled with the godless.

9But the righteous man holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.

10“But turn, all of you, and come now! I will not find a wise man among you.

11My days have passed; my plans are shattered, even the desires of my heart.

12These men change night into day; they say, ‘The light is near in the face of darkness.’

13If I hope for the grave to be my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness,

14if I cry out to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’

15where then is my hope? And my hope, who sees it?

16Will it go down to the barred gates of death? Will we descend together into the dust?”

1“My spirit is consumed. My days are extinct, And the grave is ready for me.

2Surely there are mockers with me. My eye dwells on their provocation.

3“Now give a pledge, be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?

4For you have hidden their heart from understanding, Therefore you shall not exalt them.

5He who denounces his friends for plunder, Even the eyes of his children shall fail.

6“But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face.

7My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. All my members are as a shadow.

8Upright men shall be astonished at this. The innocent shall stir up himself against the godless.

9Yet shall the righteous hold on his way. He who has clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger.

10But as for you all, come on now again; I shall not find a wise man among you.

11My days are past, my plans are broken off, as are the thoughts of my heart.

12They change the night into day, saying ‘The light is near’ in the presence of darkness.

13If I look for Sheol as my house, if I have spread my couch in the darkness,

14If I have said to corruption, ‘You are my father;’ to the worm, ‘My mother,’ and ‘my sister;’

15where then is my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

16Shall it go down with me to the gates of Sheol, or descend together into the dust?”