Job 17
1 Meine Lebenskraft ist gebrochen, meine Tage sind erloschen; nur die Gräberstätte wartet meiner noch!«
“My (life/time to live) is almost ended; I have no strength left; my grave is waiting for me.
2 »Wahrlich, der Spott treibt sein Spiel mit mir, und mein Auge muß auf ihren Beleidigungen weilen!
Those who are around me are making fun of me; I [SYN] watch them while they (taunt/make fun of) me.”
3 O setze doch das Pfand ein, verbürge dich doch für mich bei dir selbst! Wer sollte sonst als Bürge mir den Handschlag leisten?
“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 Denn ihr Herz hast du der Einsicht verschlossen; darum kannst du sie auch nicht obsiegen 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 Wenn jemand seine Freunde verrät, um etwas von ihrem Besitz an sich zu bringen, so werden die Augen seiner Kinder dafür verschmachten.
[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 Und mich hat er für alle Welt zum Gespött gemacht, und ich muß mir ins Angesicht speien lassen;
“But now people use that saying of our ancestors when they talk about me; they spit in my face [to insult me].
7 da ist mein Auge vor Gram erloschen, und alle meine Glieder sind nur noch wie ein Schatten.
(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 Darüber entsetzen sich die Rechtschaffenen, und der Unschuldige gerät in Empörung über den Ruchlosen.
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 Doch der Gerechte soll an seinem Wege festhalten, und wer reine Hände hat, soll an Kraft noch zunehmen.«
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 »Ihr alle aber, kommt immerhin aufs neue heran: ich werde doch keinen Weisen unter euch finden.
“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 Meine Tage sind abgelaufen, meine Pläne vereitelt, die Bestrebungen meines Herzens!
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 Die Nacht wollen sie zum Tage machen: das Licht soll mir näher sein 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 Wenn ich schon das Totenreich als meine Behausung erwarte, in der Finsternis mir mein Lager schon ausgebreitet habe, (Sheol h7585)
If my home will be the place where dead people are, where will I sleep in the darkness? (Sheol h7585)
14 wenn ich dem Grabe bereits zugerufen habe: ›Mein Vater bist du!‹ und dem Gewürm: ›Meine Mutter und meine 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 ist da noch eine Hoffnung für mich? Ja, eine Hoffnung für mich – wer mag sie erschauen?
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]
16 Zu den Riegeln des Totenreichs fährt sie (die Hoffnung) hinab, wenn zugleich (für den Leib) im Staube Ruhe sein wird.« (Sheol h7585)
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)
