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 days are extinct, the graves [are 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.”

[Are there] not mockers with me? and doth not my eye continue in 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.

Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who [is] he [that] will strike hands with 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 thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou 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 speaketh flattery to [his] friends, even 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 also a by-word of the people; and in former time I was as a tabret.

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 also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members [are] as a shade.

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 astonished at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself 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.

The righteous also 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.

But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find [one] 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 purposes are broken off, [even] the thoughts 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.

They change the night into day: the light [is] short because 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, the grave [is] my house: I have made my bed 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].’

I have said to corruption, Thou [art] my father: to the worm, [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]

And where [is] now my hope? as for my hope, who will 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)

They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when [our] rest together [is] in the dust. (Sheol h7585)