Job 17

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

My breath is corrupt: my dayes are cut off, and the graue is readie for me.

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

There are none but mockers with mee, and mine eye continueth in their bitternesse.

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.

Lay downe nowe and put me in suretie for thee: who is hee, that will touch mine hand?

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].

For thou hast hid their heart from vnderstanding: therefore shalt thou not set them vp on hie.

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].

For the eyes of his children shall faile, that speaketh flattery to his friends.

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

Hee hath also made mee a byword of the people, and I am as a Tabret 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.

Mine eye therefore is dimme for griefe, and all my strength is like a shadowe.

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 righteous shalbe astonied at this, and the innocent shalbe moued against ye 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.

But the righteous wil holde his way, and he whose hands are pure, shall increase his strength.

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.

All you therefore turne you, and come nowe, and I shall not finde one wise among you.

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 dayes are past, mine enterprises are broken, and the thoughts of mine 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.

Haue changed the nyght for the day, and the light that approched, for darkenesse.

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

Though I hope, yet the graue shall bee mine house, and I shall make my bed in the darke. (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].’

I shall say to corruption, Thou art my father, and to the worme, Thou art 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 then now mine hope? or who shall consider the thing, that I hoped for?

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)

They shall goe downe into the bottome of the pit: surely it shall lye together in the dust. (Sheol h7585)