Job 17

1 “My (life/time to live) is almost ended; I have no strength left; my grave is waiting for me.

My spirit shall be wasted, my days shall be shortened, and only the grave remaineth for me.

2 Those who are around me are making fun of me; I [SYN] watch them while they (taunt/make fun of) me.”

I have not sinned, and my eye abideth in bitterness.

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.

Deliver me O Lord, and set me beside thee, and let any man’s hand fight against me.

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].

Thou hast set their heart far from understanding, therefore they shall not be exalted.

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].

He promiseth a prey to his companions, and the eyes of his children shall fail.

6 “But now people use that saying of our ancestors when they talk about me; they spit in my face [to insult me].

He hath made me as it were a byword of the people, and I am an example before them.

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.

My eye is dim through indignation, and my limbs are brought as it were to nothing.

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.

The just shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall be raised up against the hypocrite.

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.

And the just man shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

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.

Wherefore be you all converted, and come, and I shall not find among you any wise man.

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.

My days have passed away, my thoughts are dissipated, tormenting my heart.

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.

They have turned night into day, and after darkness I hope for light again.

13 If my home will be the place where dead people are, where will I sleep in the darkness? (Sheol h7585)

If I wait hell is my house, and I have made my bed in darkness. (Sheol h7585)

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].’

If I have said to rottenness: Thou art my father; to worms, my mother and my sister.

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]

Where is now then my expectation, and who considereth my patience?

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 h7585)

All that I have shall go down into the deepest pit: thinkest thou that there at least I shall have rest? (Sheol h7585)