Job 17
1 My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct, the grave is ready for me.
My spirit shall be wasted, my days shall be shortened, and only the grave remaineth for me.
2 Surely there are mockers with me, and mine eye abideth in their provocation.
I have not sinned, and my eye abideth in bitterness.
3 Give now a pledge, be surety for me with Thyself; who else is there that will strike hands with me?
Deliver me O Lord, and set me beside thee, and let any man’s hand fight against me.
4 For Thou hast hid their heart from understanding; therefore shalt Thou not exalt them.
Thou hast set their heart far from understanding, therefore they shall not be exalted.
5 He that denounceth his friends for the sake of flattery, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
He promiseth a prey to his companions, and the eyes of his children shall fail.
6 He hath made me also a byword of the people; and I am become one in whose face they spit.
He hath made me as it were a byword of the people, and I am an example before them.
7 Mine eye also is dimmed by reason of vexation, and all my members are as a shadow.
My eye is dim through indignation, and my limbs are brought as it were to nothing.
8 Upright men are astonished at this, and the innocent stirreth up himself against the godless.
The just shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall be raised up against the hypocrite.
9 Yet the righteous holdeth on his way, and he that hath clean hands waxeth stronger and stronger.
And the just man shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
10 But as for you all, do ye return, and come now; and I shall not find a wise man among you.
Wherefore be you all converted, and come, and I shall not find among you any wise man.
11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
My days have passed away, my thoughts are dissipated, tormenting my heart.
12 They change the night into day; the light is short because of darkness.
They have turned night into day, and after darkness I hope for light again.
13 If I look for the nether-world as my house; if I have spread my couch in the darkness; (Sheol h7585)
If I wait hell is my house, and I have made my bed in darkness. (Sheol h7585)
14 If I have said to corruption: 'Thou art my father', to the worm: 'Thou art my mother, and my sister';
If I have said to rottenness: Thou art my father; to worms, my mother and my sister.
15 Where then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it?
Where is now then my expectation, and who considereth my patience?
