Job 17
1 “My spirit has been destroyed, My days extinguished—graves [are] for me.
My spirit is broken, my days are ended, the last resting-place is ready for me.
2 If not—mockeries [are] with me. And my eye lodges in their provocations.
Truly, those who make sport of me are round about me, and my eyes become dark because of their bitter laughing.
3 Now place my pledge with You; Who is he that strikes hand with me?
Be pleased, now, to be responsible for me to yourself; for there is no other who will put his hand in mine.
4 For You have hidden their heart from understanding, Therefore You do not exalt them.
You have kept their hearts from wisdom: for this cause you will not give them honour.
5 For a portion he shows friendship, And the eyes of his sons are consumed.
As for him who is false to his friend for a reward, light will be cut off from the eyes of his children.
6 And He set me up for a proverb of the peoples, And I am a wonder before them.
He has made me a word of shame to the peoples; I have become a mark for their sport.
7 And my eye is dim from sorrow, And my members—all of them—as a shadow.
My eyes have become dark because of my pain, and all my body is wasted to a shade.
8 The upright are astonished at this, and the innocent stirs himself up against the profane.
The upright are surprised at this, and he who has done no wrong is troubled because of the evil-doers.
9 And the righteous lays hold [on] his way, And the clean of hands adds strength.
Still the upright keeps on his way, and he who has clean hands gets new strength.
10 But please return and come in, all of you, And I do not find a wise man among you.
But come back, now, all of you, come; and I will not see a wise man among you.
11 My days have passed by, My plans have been broken off, The possessions of my heart!
My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the desires of my heart.
12 They appoint night for day, Light [is] near because of darkness.
They are changing night into day; they say, The light is near the dark.
If I am waiting for the underworld as my house, if I have made my bed in the dark; (Sheol h7585)
14 To corruption I have called: You [are] my father. To the worm: My mother and my sister.
If I say to the earth, You are my father; and to the worm, My mother and my sister;
15 And where [is] my hope now? Indeed, my hope, who beholds it?
Where then is my hope? and who will see my desire?
