Job 17
1 My spirit is broken, my days are ended, the last resting-place is ready for me.
My spirit is crushed; my life is extinguished; the grave is ready for me.
2 Truly, those who make sport of me are round about me, and my eyes become dark because of their bitter laughing.
Mockers surround me. I see how bitterly they ridicule me.
3 Be pleased, now, to be responsible for me to yourself; for there is no other who will put his hand in mine.
God, you need to put down a pledge for me with yourself, for 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, so do not let them win!
5 As for him who is false to his friend for a reward, light will be cut off from the eyes of his children.
They betray friends to gain benefit for themselves and their children suffer for it.
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 proverb of ridicule among the people; they spit in my face.
7 My eyes have become dark because of my pain, and all my body is wasted to a shade.
My eyes are worn out from crying and my body is a shadow of its former self.
8 The upright are surprised at this, and he who has done no wrong is troubled because of the evil-doers.
People who think they are good are shocked to see me. Those who are innocent are troubled by the godless.
9 Still the upright keeps on his way, and he who has clean hands gets new strength.
Those who are right keep going, and those whose hands are clean grow stronger and stronger.
10 But come back, now, all of you, come; and I will not see a wise man among you.
Why don't you come back and repeat again what you've been saying?—yet I still won't find a wise man among you!
11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the desires of my heart.
My life is over. My plans are gone. My heart is broken.
12 They are changing night into day; they say, The light is near the dark.
They turn night into day, and say that daylight is close to darkness.
What am I looking for? To make my home in Sheol, to make 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;
Should I call the grave my father, and the maggot my mother or my sister?
15 Where then is my hope? and who will see my desire?
So then where is my hope? Can anyone see any hope for me?
