Job 17
1 “My (life/time to live) is almost ended; I have no strength left; my grave is waiting for me.
My spirit, is broken, My days, are extinguished, Graves, are left me.
2 Those who are around me are making fun of me; I [SYN] watch them while they (taunt/make fun of) me.”
Verily there are mockers, with me! And, on their insults, mine eye doth rest.
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.
Appoint it, I pray thee—be thou surety for me with thyself, Who is there that, on my side, can pledge himself?
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, their heart, hast thou kept back from understanding, On this account, thou wilt not exalt them.
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 that, for a share, denounceth friends, even, the eyes of his children, shall be dim.
6 “But now people use that saying of our ancestors when they talk about me; they spit in my face [to insult me].
But he hath set me, as the byword of peoples, And, one to be spit on in the face, do I become.
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.
Therefore hath mine eye become dim from vexation, and, my members, are like a shadow, all of them.
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.
Upright men shall be astounded over this, and, the innocent, against the impious, shall rouse themselves.
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.
That the righteous may hold on his way, and, the clean of hands, increase in 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.
But indeed, as for them all, will ye bethink yourselves and enter into it, I pray you? Or shall I not find, among you, one who is wise?
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, are past, my purposes, are broken off, the possessions of 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.
Night for day, they appoint, Light, is near, by reason of darkness!
13 If my home will be the place where dead people are, where will I sleep in the darkness? (Sheol h7585)
If I wait for hades as my house, in darkness, have spread out my couch; (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].’
To corruption, have exclaimed, My father, thou! My mother! and My sister! to the worm.
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 then would be my hope? And, as for my blessedness, who should see it!
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)
With me to hades, would they go down, If, wholly—into the dust, is the descent! (Sheol h7585)
