Job 17
1 Mijn geest gebroken, mijn dagen geblust, Mij rest slechts het graf!
“My (life/time to live) is almost ended; I have no strength left; my grave is waiting for me.
2 Ben ik niet het mikpunt van spot, Verkwijnt niet mijn oog door de bittere verwijten?
Those who are around me are making fun of me; I [SYN] watch them while they (taunt/make fun of) me.”
3 Stel Uzelf bij U tot borg voor mijl; Wie anders zou voor mij handslag geven?
“God, [it is as though I am in prison; ] please pay the money in order that I may be released, because there is certainly no one else who will help me.
4 Want hùn hart hebt Gij voor inzicht gesloten, En daarom steken zij de hand niet uit;
You have prevented my friends from understanding [what is true about me]; do not allow them to triumph over me, [saying that I have done things that are wrong].
5 Men beklaagt het lot van zijn vrienden Terwijl de ogen versmachten van de eigen kinderen;
[Our ancestors often said, ‘It often happens that] when someone betrays his friends in order to get some of their property, it is that person’s children who will be punished for it;’ [so I desire/hope that will be true of these friends of mine who are lying about me].
6 Men heeft mij tot spreekwoord gemaakt bij de mensen, Ik ben een, wien men in het aangezicht spuwt!
“But now people use that saying of our ancestors when they talk about me; they spit in my face [to insult me].
7 Mijn oog is dof van verdriet, Mijn leden zijn tot een schaduw vervluchtigd!
(My sight has become dim/I cannot see well) because I am extremely sad, and my arms and legs are [very thin, with the result that they almost do not cast] [MET] a shadow.
8 De braven ontstellen ervan, De onschuldige is jaloers op den boze:
Those who [say that they] are good/righteous are shocked [when they see what has happened to me], and people who [say that they] (are innocent/have not done anything that is wrong) say that I am wicked/godless and should be punished.
9 Moet de rechtvaardige toch zijn weg maar bewandelen, Wie rein van handen is, zijn kracht nog verdubbelen?
Those who [claim that they] are righteous will continue to do what [they think] is right, and those [who say] they have not sinned will continue to become stronger.
10 En daarom, hoe gij u allen wendt of keert, Een wijze vind ik onder u niet;
“But even if all of those people came [and stood in front of me], I would not find anyone among them who is wise.
11 Mijn levensdagen zijn voorbij, Mijn plannen, mijn hartewensen vernield!
My (life/time to live) is almost ended; I have not been able to do the things that I confidently expected to do; [I have not been able to accomplish] anything that I [SYN] desired.
12 Men maakt een dag van de nacht, Van duisternis het morgenlicht!
My friends do not know when it is night and when it is day; when it is night, they claim that it is daylight; when it is becoming dark, they claim it is becoming light.
13 Kan ik nog hopen? Het dodenrijk is mijn huis, In de duisternis heb ik mijn leger gespreid; (Sheol h7585)
If my home will be the place where dead people are, where will I sleep in the darkness? (Sheol h7585)
14 Tot het graf geroepen: Gij zijt mijn vader, Tot de wormen: Gij zijt mijn moeder en zusters!
I may say to the grave, ‘You will be [like] a father to me,’ and say to the maggots [that will eat my body], ‘You will be [like] a mother or younger sisters to me [because you will be where I will always be].’
15 Waar is mijn hoop, Mijn geluk, wie kan het ontdekken:
But if I say those things, (will there be anything good that I can confidently expect to happen to me?/there will be nothing good that I can confidently expect to happen to me.) [RHQ] (Is there anyone who knows anything good that I can expect when I am in the grave?/No one knows anything good that I can expect when I am in the grave.) [RHQ]
After I descend to the place where the dead are, (will I be able to confidently expect anything good there?/I certainly will not be able to confidently expect anything good there.) [RHQ] [It will be as though] [RHQ] I and the things I hope for will descend with me into the dust [where the dead are].” (Sheol h7585)
