< Job 17 >
1 My spirit is broken, my days are ended, the last resting-place is ready for me.
My breath is corrupt: my dayes are cut off, and the graue is readie for me.
2 Truly, those who make sport of me are round about me, and my eyes become dark because of their bitter laughing.
There are none but mockers with mee, and mine eye continueth in their bitternesse.
3 Be pleased, now, to be responsible for me to yourself; for there is no other who will put his hand in mine.
Lay downe nowe and put me in suretie for thee: who is hee, that will touch mine hand?
4 You have kept their hearts from wisdom: for this cause you will not give them honour.
For thou hast hid their heart from vnderstanding: therefore shalt thou not set them vp on hie.
5 As for him who is false to his friend for a reward, light will be cut off from the eyes of his children.
For the eyes of his children shall faile, that speaketh flattery to his friends.
6 He has made me a word of shame to the peoples; I have become a mark for their sport.
Hee hath also made mee a byword of the people, and I am as a Tabret before them.
7 My eyes have become dark because of my pain, and all my body is wasted to a shade.
Mine eye therefore is dimme for griefe, and all my strength is like a shadowe.
8 The upright are surprised at this, and he who has done no wrong is troubled because of the evil-doers.
The righteous shalbe astonied at this, and the innocent shalbe moued against ye hypocrite.
9 Still the upright keeps on his way, and he who has clean hands gets new strength.
But the righteous wil holde his way, and he whose hands are pure, shall increase his strength.
10 But come back, now, all of you, come; and I will not see a wise man among you.
All you therefore turne you, and come nowe, and I shall not finde one wise among you.
11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the desires of my heart.
My dayes are past, mine enterprises are broken, and the thoughts of mine heart
12 They are changing night into day; they say, The light is near the dark.
Haue changed the nyght for the day, and the light that approched, for darkenesse.
13 If I am waiting for the underworld as my house, if I have made my bed in the dark; (Sheol )
Though I hope, yet the graue shall bee mine house, and I shall make my bed in the darke. (Sheol )
14 If I say to the earth, You are my father; and to the worm, My mother and my sister;
I shall say to corruption, Thou art my father, and to the worme, Thou art my mother and my sister.
15 Where then is my hope? and who will see my desire?
Where is then now mine hope? or who shall consider the thing, that I hoped for?
16 Will they go down with me into the underworld? Will we go down together into the dust? (Sheol )
They shall goe downe into the bottome of the pit: surely it shall lye together in the dust. (Sheol )