Job 17
1 My spirit is consumed, and my days are over; the grave is ready for me.
My spirit is broken, my days are ended, the last resting-place is ready for me.
2 Surely there are mockers with me; my eye must always see their provocation.
Truly, those who make sport of me are round about me, and my eyes become dark because of their bitter laughing.
3 Give now a pledge, be a guarantee for me with yourself; who else is there who will help me?
Be pleased, now, to be responsible for me to yourself; for there is no other who will put his hand in mine.
4 For you, God, have kept their hearts from understanding; therefore, you will not exalt them over me.
You have kept their hearts from wisdom: for this cause you will not give them honour.
5 He who denounces his friends for a reward, the eyes of his children will fail.
As for him who is false to his friend for a reward, light will be cut off from the eyes of his children.
6 But he has made me a byword of the people; they spit in my face.
He has made me a word of shame to the peoples; I have become a mark for their sport.
7 My eye is also dim because of sorrow; all my body parts are as thin as shadows.
My eyes have become dark because of my pain, and all my body is wasted to a shade.
8 Upright men will be stunned by this; the innocent man will stir himself up against godless men.
The upright are surprised at this, and he who has done no wrong is troubled because of the evil-doers.
9 The righteous man will keep to his way; he who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.
Still the upright keeps on his way, and he who has clean hands gets new strength.
10 But as for you all, come on now; I will not find a wise man among you.
But come back, now, all of you, come; and I will not see a wise man among you.
11 My days are past; my plans are shattered, and so are the desires of my heart.
My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the desires of my heart.
12 These people, these mockers, change the night into day; light is near to darkness.
They are changing night into day; they say, The light is near the dark.
13 If the only home I hope for is Sheol; and if I have spread my couch in the darkness; (Sheol h7585)
If I am waiting for the underworld as my house, if I have made my bed in the dark; (Sheol h7585)
14 and if I have said to the pit, 'You are my father,' and to the worm, 'You are my mother or my sister,'
If I say to the earth, You are my father; and to the worm, My mother and my sister;
15 where then is my hope? As for my hope, who can see any?
Where then is my hope? and who will see my desire?
