Job 17
1 I perish, carried away by the wind, and I seek for burial, and obtain [it] not.
My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave is ready for me.
2 Weary I entreat; and what have I done? and strangers have stolen my goods.
Yet truly those that mock are with me, and on their offendings must my eye rest.
3 Who is this? let him join hands with me.
And thou, [Creator!] attend, I pray thee, be my surety with thyself: who else is there that would strike hands with me?
4 For you have hid their heart from wisdom; therefore you shall not exalt them.
For thou hast concealed their heart against intelligence: therefore art thou not exalted [through them].
5 He shall promise mischief to [his] companions: but [their] eyes have failed for [their] children.
Every one of them speaketh deceptively to his friends: may also the eyes of his children fail.
6 But you has made me a byword amount the nations, and I am become a scorn to them.
And he hath placed me here as a by-word unto nations; and I become openly as a place of abomination.
7 For my eyes are dimmed through pain; I have been grievously beset by all.
Therefore is my eye dim from vexation, and my limbs are all of them like a shadow.
8 Wonder has seized true men upon this; and let the just rise up against the transgressor.
Upright men must be astonished at this, and the innocent must arouse himself against the hypocrite.
9 But let the faithful hold on his own way, and let him that is pure of hands take courage.
Yet will the righteous hold firmly on to his way; and he that is clean of hands will acquire additional strength.
10 Howbeit, do you all strengthen [yourselves] and come now, for I do not find truth in you.
But all of you, do only return, and come but [to me]: and yet I shall not find among you one wise man.
11 My days have passed in groaning, and my heart-strings are broken.
My days are past, my resolves are broken off, [even the thoughts]—the possessions of my heart.
12 I have turned the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
These would change the night into day, the light as near in the presence of darkness.—
When I hope for the nether world as my house; in the darkness have I spread my couch; (Sheol h7585)
14 I have called upon death to be my father, and corruption [to be] my mother and sister.
When I call to corruption, Thou art my father: Thou art my mother, and my sister, to the worms.
15 Where then is yet my hope? or [where] shall I see my good?
Ay, where is then my hope? as for my hope, who will see it [fulfilled]?
