Job 17
1 MY breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.
My spirit hath been destroyed, My days extinguished — graves [are] for me.
2 Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?
If not — mockeries [are] with me. And in their provocations mine eye lodgeth.
3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?
Place, I pray Thee, my pledge with Thee; Who is he that striketh hand with me?
4 For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.
For their heart Thou hast hidden From understanding, Therefore Thou dost not exalt them.
5 He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
For a portion he sheweth friendship, And the eyes of his sons are consumed.
6 He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.
And he set me up for a proverb of the peoples, And a wonder before them I am.
7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.
And dim from sorrow is mine eye, And my members as a shadow all of them.
8 Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.
Astonished are the upright at this, And the innocent against the profane Stirreth himself up.
9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
And the righteous layeth hold [on] his way, And the clean of hands addeth strength, And — dumb are they all.
10 But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.
Return, and come in, I pray you, And I find not among you a wise man.
11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
My days have passed by, My devices have been broken off, The possessions of my heart!
12 They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
Night for day they appoint, Light [is] near because of darkness.
If I wait — Sheol [is] my house, In darkness I have spread out my couch. (Sheol h7585)
14 I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.
To corruption I have called: — 'Thou [art] my father.' 'My mother' and 'my sister' — to the worm.
15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
And where [is] now my hope? Yea, my hope, who doth behold it?
