Job 17
1 My spirit will be wasted, my days will be shortened, and only the grave will be left for me.
My spirit hath been destroyed, My days extinguished — graves [are] for me.
2 I have not sinned, yet my eye remains in bitterness.
If not — mockeries [are] with me. And in their provocations mine eye lodgeth.
3 Free me, O Lord, and set me beside you, and let the hand of anyone you wish fight against me.
Place, I pray Thee, my pledge with Thee; Who is he that striketh hand with me?
4 You have set their heart far from discipline; therefore, they will not be praised.
For their heart Thou hast hidden From understanding, Therefore Thou dost not exalt them.
5 He promises prey to his companions, but the eyes of his sons will grow faint.
For a portion he sheweth friendship, And the eyes of his sons are consumed.
6 He has posted me like a proverb to the people, and I am an example in their presence.
And he set me up for a proverb of the peoples, And a wonder before them I am.
7 My eyesight has been clouded by indignation, and my limbs have been reduced, as if to nothing.
And dim from sorrow is mine eye, And my members as a shadow all of them.
8 The just will be astounded over this, and the innocent will be stirred up against the hypocrite.
Astonished are the upright at this, And the innocent against the profane Stirreth himself up.
9 And the just will cling to his way, and clean hands will increase strength.
And the righteous layeth hold [on] his way, And the clean of hands addeth strength, And — dumb are they all.
10 Therefore, be converted, all of you, and approach, for I do not find in you any wisdom.
Return, and come in, I pray you, And I find not among you a wise man.
11 My days have passed away; my thoughts have been scattered, tormenting my heart.
My days have passed by, My devices have been broken off, The possessions of my heart!
12 They have turned night into day, and I hope for light again after the darkness.
Night for day they appoint, Light [is] near because of darkness.
13 If I should wait, the underworld is my house, and in darkness I have spread out my bed. (Sheol h7585)
If I wait — Sheol [is] my house, In darkness I have spread out my couch. (Sheol h7585)
14 I have said to decay and to worms: “You are my father, my mother, and my sister.”
To corruption I have called: — 'Thou [art] my father.' 'My mother' and 'my sister' — to the worm.
15 Therefore, where is my expectation now, and who is it that considers my patience?
And where [is] now my hope? Yea, my hope, who doth behold it?
