Job 17
1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves [are ready] for me.
My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave is ready for me.
2 [Are there] not mockers with me? and doth not my eye continue in their provocation?
Yet truly those that mock are with me, and on their offendings must my eye rest.
3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who [is] he [that] will strike hands with me?
And thou, [Creator!] attend, I pray thee, be my surety with thyself: who else is there that would strike hands with me?
4 For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt [them].
For thou hast concealed their heart against intelligence: therefore art thou not exalted [through them].
5 He that speaketh flattery to [his] friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
Every one of them speaketh deceptively to his friends: may also the eyes of his children fail.
6 He hath made me also a by-word of the people; and in former time I was as a tabret.
And he hath placed me here as a by-word unto nations; and I become openly as a place of abomination.
7 My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members [are] as a shade.
Therefore is my eye dim from vexation, and my limbs are all of them like a shadow.
8 Upright [men] shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.
Upright men must be astonished at this, and the innocent must arouse himself against the hypocrite.
9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
Yet will the righteous hold firmly on to his way; and he that is clean of hands will acquire additional strength.
10 But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find [one] wise [man] among you.
But all of you, do only return, and come but [to me]: and yet I shall not find among you one wise man.
11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, [even] the thoughts of my heart.
My days are past, my resolves are broken off, [even the thoughts]—the possessions of my heart.
12 They change the night into day: the light [is] short because of darkness.
These would change the night into day, the light as near in the presence of darkness.—
When I hope for the nether world as my house; in the darkness have I spread my couch; (Sheol h7585)
14 I have said to corruption, Thou [art] my father: to the worm, [Thou art] my mother, and my sister.
When I call to corruption, Thou art my father: Thou art my mother, and my sister, to the worms.
15 And where [is] now my hope? as for my hope, who will see it?
Ay, where is then my hope? as for my hope, who will see it [fulfilled]?
