Job 17
1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are mine.
“My spirit is consumed. My days are extinct and the grave is ready for me.
2 Are there not mockers around me? and doth [not] mine eye abide in their provocation?
Surely there are mockers with me. My eye dwells on their provocation.
3 Lay down now [a pledge], be thou surety for me with thyself: who is he that striketh hands with me?
“Now give a pledge. Be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?
4 For thou hast hidden their heart from understanding; therefore thou wilt not exalt [them].
For you have hidden their heart from understanding, therefore you will not exalt them.
5 He that betrayeth friends for a prey — even the eyes of his children shall fail.
He who denounces his friends for plunder, even the eyes of his children will fail.
6 And he hath made me a proverb of the peoples; and I am become one to be spit on in the face.
“But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face.
7 And mine eye is dim by reason of grief, and all my members are as a shadow.
My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. All my members are as a shadow.
8 Upright men [shall be] astonished at this, and the innocent shall be stirred up against the ungodly;
Upright men will be astonished at this. The innocent will stir himself up against the godless.
9 But the righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall increase in strength.
Yet the righteous will hold to his way. He who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.
10 But as for you all, pray come on again; and I shall not find one wise man among you.
But as for you all, come back. I will not find a wise man among you.
11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, the cherished thoughts of my heart.
My days are past. My plans are broken off, as are the thoughts of my heart.
12 They change the night into day; the light [they imagine] near in presence of the darkness.
They change the night into day, saying ‘The light is near’ in the presence of darkness.
If I look for Sheol as my house, if I have spread my couch in the darkness, (Sheol h7585)
14 I cry to the grave, Thou art my father! to the worm, My mother, and my sister!
if I have said to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ and ‘My sister,’
15 And where is then my hope? yea, my hope, who shall see it?
where then is my hope? As for my hope, who will see it?
