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 consumed, and my days are over; the grave is ready for me.

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

Surely there are mockers with me; my eye must always see their provocation.

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.

Give now a pledge, be a guarantee for me with yourself; who else is there who will help 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].

For you, God, have kept their hearts from understanding; therefore, you will not exalt them over me.

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 who denounces his friends for a reward, the eyes of his children will fail.

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 has made me a byword of the people; they spit in my face.

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 also dim because of sorrow; all my body parts are as thin as shadows.

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 will be stunned by this; the innocent man will stir himself up against godless men.

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.

The righteous man will keep to his way; he who has clean hands will grow 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.

But as for you all, come on now; I will not find a wise man 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 days are past; my plans are shattered, and so are the desires 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.

These people, these mockers, change the night into day; light is near to darkness.

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

If the only home I hope for is Sheol; and if I have spread my couch in the 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].’

and if I have said to the pit, 'You are my father,' and to the worm, 'You are my mother or 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 then is my hope? As for my hope, who can see any?

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)

Will hope go down with me to the gates of Sheol when we descend to the dust?” (Sheol h7585)