Job 17
1 "Dahin ist meine Lebenskraft, und meine Tage, die verflossen, sind für mich ebensoviel Gräber.
“My (life/time to live) is almost ended; I have no strength left; my grave is waiting for me.
2 Wahrhaftig! Tadler sind bei mir; mein Auge muß auf ihrem Hader weilen. -
Those who are around me are making fun of me; I [SYN] watch them while they (taunt/make fun of) me.”
3 Setz ein! Jedoch Du hast schon meinen Einsatz. Wer gäbe sonst mir Handschlag?
“God, [it is as though I am in prison; ] please pay the money in order that I may be released, because there is certainly no one else who will help me.
4 Ihr Herz verschlossest Du der Einsicht; drum darfst Du sie nicht triumphieren lassen.
You have prevented my friends from understanding [what is true about me]; do not allow them to triumph over me, [saying that I have done things that are wrong].
5 Es hieße, Freunden einen Anteil zuerkennen, die eigenen Kinder aber darben lassen.
[Our ancestors often said, ‘It often happens that] when someone betrays his friends in order to get some of their property, it is that person’s children who will be punished for it;’ [so I desire/hope that will be true of these friends of mine who are lying about me].
6 Zum Sprichwort macht er mich für alle Welt; wie einer, dem man ins Gesicht speit, bin ich jetzt.
“But now people use that saying of our ancestors when they talk about me; they spit in my face [to insult me].
7 Die Augen sind vor Kummer blind; wie Schatten schwindet hin mein Leib.
(My sight has become dim/I cannot see well) because I am extremely sad, and my arms and legs are [very thin, with the result that they almost do not cast] [MET] a shadow.
8 Die 'Frommen' staunen drüber, 'Unschuldige' jubeln über den Verruchten.
Those who [say that they] are good/righteous are shocked [when they see what has happened to me], and people who [say that they] (are innocent/have not done anything that is wrong) say that I am wicked/godless and should be punished.
9 Recht fest an ihrem Wege halten die 'Gerechten', aufs neue schöpfen Kräfte diese 'Biederen'.
Those who [claim that they] are righteous will continue to do what [they think] is right, and those [who say] they have not sinned will continue to become stronger.
10 Wenn ihr auch allesamt herbeikommt, ich finde keinen Weisen unter euch.
“But even if all of those people came [and stood in front of me], I would not find anyone among them who is wise.
11 Hinschwinden meine Tage; dahin sind meine Pläne, die Herzenswünsche.
My (life/time to live) is almost ended; I have not been able to do the things that I confidently expected to do; [I have not been able to accomplish] anything that I [SYN] desired.
12 Nacht macht man mir für Tag, das Licht noch dunkler als die Finsternis.
My friends do not know when it is night and when it is day; when it is night, they claim that it is daylight; when it is becoming dark, they claim it is becoming light.
13 Muß ich schon in der Unterwelt auf eine Wohnung rechnen, erhalte ich mein Ruhbett in der Finsternis. (Sheol h7585)
If my home will be the place where dead people are, where will I sleep in the darkness? (Sheol h7585)
14 Und muß ich 'Vater!' zur Verwesung sagen und zum Gewürme 'Mutter!', 'Schwester!',
I may say to the grave, ‘You will be [like] a father to me,’ and say to the maggots [that will eat my body], ‘You will be [like] a mother or younger sisters to me [because you will be where I will always be].’
15 wo bleibt da meine Hoffnung? Wer kann noch Glück für mich erspähen?
But if I say those things, (will there be anything good that I can confidently expect to happen to me?/there will be nothing good that I can confidently expect to happen to me.) [RHQ] (Is there anyone who knows anything good that I can expect when I am in the grave?/No one knows anything good that I can expect when I am in the grave.) [RHQ]
After I descend to the place where the dead are, (will I be able to confidently expect anything good there?/I certainly will not be able to confidently expect anything good there.) [RHQ] [It will be as though] [RHQ] I and the things I hope for will descend with me into the dust [where the dead are].” (Sheol h7585)
