Job 17
1 My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave is ready for me.
My spirit shall be wasted, my days shall be shortened, and only the grave remaineth for me.
2 Yet truly those that mock are with me, and on their offendings must my eye rest.
I have not sinned, and my eye abideth in bitterness.
3 And thou, [Creator!] attend, I pray thee, be my surety with thyself: who else is there that would 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 concealed their heart against intelligence: therefore art thou not exalted [through them].
Thou hast set their heart far from understanding, therefore they shall not be exalted.
5 Every one of them speaketh deceptively to his friends: may also the eyes of his children fail.
He promiseth a prey to his companions, and the eyes of his children shall fail.
6 And he hath placed me here as a by-word unto nations; and I become openly as a place of abomination.
He hath made me as it were a byword of the people, and I am an example before them.
7 Therefore is my eye dim from vexation, and my limbs are all of them like a shadow.
My eye is dim through indignation, and my limbs are brought as it were to nothing.
8 Upright men must be astonished at this, and the innocent must arouse himself against the hypocrite.
The just shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall be raised up against the hypocrite.
9 Yet will the righteous hold firmly on to his way; and he that is clean of hands will acquire additional strength.
And the just man shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
10 But all of you, do only return, and come but [to me]: and yet I shall not find among you one wise man.
Wherefore be you all converted, and come, and I shall not find among you any wise man.
11 My days are past, my resolves are broken off, [even the thoughts]—the possessions of my heart.
My days have passed away, my thoughts are dissipated, tormenting my heart.
12 These would change the night into day, the light as near in the presence of darkness.—
They have turned night into day, and after darkness I hope for light again.
13 When I hope for the nether world as my house; in the darkness have I spread my couch; (Sheol h7585)
If I wait hell is my house, and I have made my bed in darkness. (Sheol h7585)
14 When I call to corruption, Thou art my father: Thou art my mother, and my sister, to the worms.
If I have said to rottenness: Thou art my father; to worms, my mother and my sister.
15 Ay, where is then my hope? as for my hope, who will see it [fulfilled]?
Where is now then my expectation, and who considereth my patience?
