< Job 17 >

1 My spirit hath been destroyed, My days extinguished — graves [are] for me.
I perish, carried away by the wind, and I seek for burial, and obtain [it] not.
2 If not — mockeries [are] with me. And in their provocations mine eye lodgeth.
Weary I entreat; and what have I done? and strangers have stolen my goods.
3 Place, I pray Thee, my pledge with Thee; Who is he that striketh hand with me?
Who is this? let him join hands with me.
4 For their heart Thou hast hidden From understanding, Therefore Thou dost not exalt them.
For you have hid their heart from wisdom; therefore you shall not exalt them.
5 For a portion he sheweth friendship, And the eyes of his sons are consumed.
He shall promise mischief to [his] companions: but [their] eyes have failed for [their] children.
6 And he set me up for a proverb of the peoples, And a wonder before them I am.
But you has made me a byword amount the nations, and I am become a scorn to them.
7 And dim from sorrow is mine eye, And my members as a shadow all of them.
For my eyes are dimmed through pain; I have been grievously beset by all.
8 Astonished are the upright at this, And the innocent against the profane Stirreth himself up.
Wonder has seized true men upon this; and let the just rise up against the transgressor.
9 And the righteous layeth hold [on] his way, And the clean of hands addeth strength, And — dumb are they all.
But let the faithful hold on his own way, and let him that is pure of hands take courage.
10 Return, and come in, I pray you, And I find not among you a wise man.
Howbeit, do you all strengthen [yourselves] and come now, for I do not find truth in you.
11 My days have passed by, My devices have been broken off, The possessions of my heart!
My days have passed in groaning, and my heart-strings are broken.
12 Night for day they appoint, Light [is] near because of darkness.
I have turned the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
13 If I wait — Sheol [is] my house, In darkness I have spread out my couch. (Sheol h7585)
For if I remain, Hades is my habitation: and my bed has been made in darkness. (Sheol h7585)
14 To corruption I have called: — 'Thou [art] my father.' 'My mother' and 'my sister' — to the worm.
I have called upon death to be my father, and corruption [to be] my mother and sister.
15 And where [is] now my hope? Yea, my hope, who doth behold it?
Where then is yet my hope? or [where] shall I see my good?
16 [To] the parts of Sheol ye go down, If together on the dust we may rest. (Sheol h7585)
Will they go down with me to Hades, or shall we go down together to the tomb? (Sheol h7585)

< Job 17 >