Job 17
1 My spirit hath been destroyed, My days extinguished — graves [are] for me.
My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.
2 If not — mockeries [are] with me. And in their provocations mine eye lodgeth.
Are there not mockers with me? and doth not my eye continue in their provocation?
3 Place, I pray Thee, my pledge with Thee; Who is he that striketh hand with me?
Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?
4 For their heart Thou hast hidden From understanding, Therefore Thou dost not exalt them.
For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.
5 For a portion he sheweth friendship, And the eyes of his sons are consumed.
He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
6 And he set me up for a proverb of the peoples, And a wonder before them I am.
He hath made me also a byword of the people; and as one before whom men spit.
7 And dim from sorrow is mine eye, And my members as a shadow all of them.
My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.
8 Astonished are the upright at this, And the innocent against the profane Stirreth himself up.
Upright men shall be appalled at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.
9 And the righteous layeth hold [on] his way, And the clean of hands addeth strength, And — dumb are they all.
The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
10 Return, and come in, I pray you, And I find not among you a wise man.
But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.
11 My days have passed by, My devices have been broken off, The possessions of my heart!
My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
12 Night for day they appoint, Light [is] near because of darkness.
They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
If I wait, the grave is my house: I have made my bed in the darkness. (Sheol h7585)
14 To corruption I have called: — 'Thou [art] my father.' 'My mother' and 'my sister' — to the worm.
I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.
15 And where [is] now my hope? Yea, my hope, who doth behold it?
And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
