Job 17
1 “My spirit is consumed. My days are extinct and the grave is ready for me.
My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct, the grave is ready for me.
2 Surely there are mockers with me. My eye dwells on their provocation.
Surely there are mockers with me, and mine eye abideth in their provocation.
3 “Now give a pledge. Be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?
Give now a pledge, be surety for me with Thyself; who else is there that will strike hands with me?
4 For you have hidden their heart from understanding, therefore you will not exalt them.
For Thou hast hid their heart from understanding; therefore shalt Thou not exalt them.
5 He who denounces his friends for plunder, even the eyes of his children will fail.
He that denounceth his friends for the sake of flattery, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
6 “But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face.
He hath made me also a byword of the people; and I am become one in whose face they spit.
7 My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. All my members are as a shadow.
Mine eye also is dimmed by reason of vexation, and all my members are as a shadow.
8 Upright men will be astonished at this. The innocent will stir himself up against the godless.
Upright men are astonished at this, and the innocent stirreth up himself against the godless.
9 Yet the righteous will hold to his way. He who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.
Yet the righteous holdeth on his way, and he that hath clean hands waxeth stronger and stronger.
10 But as for you all, come back. I will not find a wise man among you.
But as for you all, do ye return, and come now; and I shall not find a wise man among you.
11 My days are past. My plans are broken off, as are the thoughts of my heart.
My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
12 They change the night into day, saying ‘The light is near’ in the presence of darkness.
They change the night into day; the light is short because of darkness.
If I look for the nether-world as my house; if I have spread my couch in the darkness; (Sheol h7585)
14 if I have said to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ and ‘My sister,’
If I have said to corruption: 'Thou art my father', to the worm: 'Thou art my mother, and my sister';
15 where then is my hope? As for my hope, who will see it?
Where then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it?
