Job 17
1 MY breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.
My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave is ready for me.
2 Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?
Yet truly those that mock are with me, and on their offendings must my eye rest.
3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike 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 thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.
For thou hast concealed their heart against intelligence: therefore art thou not exalted [through them].
5 He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
Every one of them speaketh deceptively to his friends: may also the eyes of his children fail.
6 He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.
And he hath placed me here as a by-word unto nations; and I become openly as a place of abomination.
7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.
Therefore is my eye dim from vexation, and my limbs are all of them like a shadow.
8 Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.
Upright men must be astonished at this, and the innocent must arouse himself against the hypocrite.
9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
Yet will the righteous hold firmly on to his way; and he that is clean of hands will acquire additional strength.
10 But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among 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 are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
My days are past, my resolves are broken off, [even the thoughts]—the possessions of my heart.
12 They change 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 said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.
When I call to corruption, Thou art my father: Thou art my mother, and my sister, to the worms.
15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
Ay, where is then my hope? as for my hope, who will see it [fulfilled]?
