Job 17
1 My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave is ready for me.
“My (life/time to live) is almost ended; I have no strength left; my grave is waiting for me.
2 Yet truly those that mock are with me, and on their offendings must my eye rest.
Those who are around me are making fun of me; I [SYN] watch them while they (taunt/make fun of) me.”
3 And thou, [Creator!] attend, I pray thee, be my surety with thyself: who else is there that would strike hands with me?
“God, [it is as though I am in prison; ] please pay the money in order that I may be released, because there is certainly no one else who will help me.
4 For thou hast concealed their heart against intelligence: therefore art thou not exalted [through them].
You have prevented my friends from understanding [what is true about me]; do not allow them to triumph over me, [saying that I have done things that are wrong].
5 Every one of them speaketh deceptively to his friends: may also the eyes of his children fail.
[Our ancestors often said, ‘It often happens that] when someone betrays his friends in order to get some of their property, it is that person’s children who will be punished for it;’ [so I desire/hope that will be true of these friends of mine who are lying about me].
6 And he hath placed me here as a by-word unto nations; and I become openly as a place of abomination.
“But now people use that saying of our ancestors when they talk about me; they spit in my face [to insult me].
7 Therefore is my eye dim from vexation, and my limbs are all of them like a shadow.
(My sight has become dim/I cannot see well) because I am extremely sad, and my arms and legs are [very thin, with the result that they almost do not cast] [MET] a shadow.
8 Upright men must be astonished at this, and the innocent must arouse himself against the hypocrite.
Those who [say that they] are good/righteous are shocked [when they see what has happened to me], and people who [say that they] (are innocent/have not done anything that is wrong) say that I am wicked/godless and should be punished.
9 Yet will the righteous hold firmly on to his way; and he that is clean of hands will acquire additional strength.
Those who [claim that they] are righteous will continue to do what [they think] is right, and those [who say] they have not sinned will continue to become 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.
“But even if all of those people came [and stood in front of me], I would not find anyone among them who is wise.
11 My days are past, my resolves are broken off, [even the thoughts]—the possessions of my heart.
My (life/time to live) is almost ended; I have not been able to do the things that I confidently expected to do; [I have not been able to accomplish] anything that I [SYN] desired.
12 These would change the night into day, the light as near in the presence of darkness.—
My friends do not know when it is night and when it is day; when it is night, they claim that it is daylight; when it is becoming dark, they claim it is becoming light.
13 When I hope for the nether world as my house; in the darkness have I spread my couch; (Sheol h7585)
If my home will be the place where dead people are, where will I sleep in the darkness? (Sheol h7585)
14 When I call to corruption, Thou art my father: Thou art my mother, and my sister, to the worms.
I may say to the grave, ‘You will be [like] a father to me,’ and say to the maggots [that will eat my body], ‘You will be [like] a mother or younger sisters to me [because you will be where I will always be].’
15 Ay, where is then my hope? as for my hope, who will see it [fulfilled]?
But if I say those things, (will there be anything good that I can confidently expect to happen to me?/there will be nothing good that I can confidently expect to happen to me.) [RHQ] (Is there anyone who knows anything good that I can expect when I am in the grave?/No one knows anything good that I can expect when I am in the grave.) [RHQ]
16 Let then my limbs sink down to the nether world: truly in the dust alone there is rest for all. (Sheol h7585)
After I descend to the place where the dead are, (will I be able to confidently expect anything good there?/I certainly will not be able to confidently expect anything good there.) [RHQ] [It will be as though] [RHQ] I and the things I hope for will descend with me into the dust [where the dead are].” (Sheol h7585)
