Job 17
1 My spirit is broken, my days are ended, the last resting-place is ready for me.
“My spirit is broken; my days are extinguished; the grave awaits me.
2 Truly, those who make sport of me are round about me, and my eyes become dark because of their bitter laughing.
Surely mockers surround me, and my eyes must gaze at their rebellion.
3 Be pleased, now, to be responsible for me to yourself; for there is no other who will put his hand in mine.
Give me, I pray, the pledge You demand. Who else will be my guarantor?
4 You have kept their hearts from wisdom: for this cause you will not give them honour.
You have closed their minds to understanding; therefore You will not exalt them.
5 As for him who is false to his friend for a reward, light will be cut off from the eyes of his children.
If a man denounces his friends for a price, the eyes of his children will fail.
6 He has made me a word of shame to the peoples; I have become a mark for their sport.
He has made me a byword among the people, a man in whose face they spit.
7 My eyes have become dark because of my pain, and all my body is wasted to a shade.
My eyes have grown dim with grief, and my whole body is but a shadow.
8 The upright are surprised at this, and he who has done no wrong is troubled because of the evil-doers.
The upright are appalled at this, and the innocent are stirred against the godless.
9 Still the upright keeps on his way, and he who has clean hands gets new strength.
Yet a righteous one holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.
10 But come back, now, all of you, come; and I will not see a wise man among you.
But come back and try again, all of you. For I will not find a wise man among you.
11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the desires of my heart.
My days have passed; my plans are broken off— even the desires of my heart.
12 They are changing night into day; they say, The light is near the dark.
They have turned night into day, making light seem near in the face of darkness.
If I look for Sheol as my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness, (Sheol h7585)
14 If I say to the earth, You are my father; and to the worm, My mother and my sister;
and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’
15 Where then is my hope? and who will see my desire?
where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?
