< Job 17 >
1 “My (life/time to live) is almost ended; I have no strength left; my grave is waiting for me.
Mijn geest is verdorven, mijn dagen worden uitgeblust, de graven zijn voor mij.
2 Those who are around me are making fun of me; I [SYN] watch them while they (taunt/make fun of) me.”
Zijn niet bespotters bij mij, en overnacht niet mijn oog in hunlieder verbittering?
3 “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.
Zet toch bij, stel mij een borg bij U; wie zal hij zijn? Dat in mijn hand geklapt worde.
4 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].
Want hun hart hebt Gij van kloek verstand verborgen; daarom zult Gij hen niet verhogen.
5 [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].
Die met vleiing den vrienden wat aanzegt, ook zijner kinderen ogen zullen versmachten.
6 “But now people use that saying of our ancestors when they talk about me; they spit in my face [to insult me].
Doch Hij heeft mij tot een spreekwoord der volken gesteld; zodat ik een trommelslag ben voor ieders aangezicht.
7 (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.
Daarom is mijn oog door verdriet verdonkerd, en al mijn ledematen zijn gelijk een schaduw.
8 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.
De oprechten zullen hierover verbaasd zijn, en de onschuldige zal zich tegen den huichelaar opmaken;
9 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.
En de rechtvaardige zal zijn weg vasthouden, en die rein van handen is, zal in sterkte toenemen.
10 “But even if all of those people came [and stood in front of me], I would not find anyone among them who is wise.
Maar toch gij allen, keert weder, en komt nu; want ik vind onder u geen wijze.
11 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.
Mijn dagen zijn voorbijgegaan; uitgerukt zijn mijn gedachten, de bezittingen mijns harten.
12 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.
Den nacht verstellen zij in den dag; het licht is nabij den ondergang vanwege de duisternis.
13 If my home will be the place where dead people are, where will I sleep in the darkness? (Sheol )
Zo ik wacht, het graf zal mijn huis wezen; in de duisternis zal ik mijn bed spreiden. (Sheol )
14 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].’
Tot de groeve roep ik: Gij zijt mijn vader! Tot het gewormte: Mijn moeder, en mijn zuster!
15 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]
Waar zou dan nu mijn verwachting wezen? Ja, mijn verwachting, wie zal ze aanschouwen?
16 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 )
Zij zullen ondervaren met de handbomen des grafs, als er rust te zamen in het stof wezen zal. (Sheol )