< Job 17 >

1 I perish, carried away by the wind, and I seek for burial, and obtain [it] not.
My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves [are ready] for me.
2 Weary I entreat; and what have I done? and strangers have stolen my goods.
[Are there] not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?
3 Who is this? let him join hands with me.
Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who [is] he [that] will strike hands with me?
4 For you have hid their heart from wisdom; therefore you shall not exalt them.
For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt [them].
5 He shall promise mischief to [his] companions: but [their] eyes have failed for [their] children.
He that speaketh flattery to [his] friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
6 But you has made me a byword amount the nations, and I am become a scorn to them.
He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.
7 For my eyes are dimmed through pain; I have been grievously beset by all.
Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members [are] as a shadow.
8 Wonder has seized true men upon this; and let the just rise up against the transgressor.
Upright [men] shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.
9 But let the faithful hold on his own way, and let him that is pure of hands take courage.
The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
10 Howbeit, do you all strengthen [yourselves] and come now, for I do not find truth in you.
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 in groaning, and my heart-strings are broken.
My days are past, my purposes are broken off, [even] the thoughts of my heart.
12 I have turned the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
They change the night into day: the light [is] short because of darkness.
13 For if I remain, Hades is my habitation: and my bed has been made in darkness. (Sheol h7585)
If I wait, the grave [is] mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness. (Sheol h7585)
14 I have called upon death to be my father, and corruption [to be] my mother and sister.
I have said to corruption, Thou [art] my father: to the worm, [Thou art] my mother, and my sister.
15 Where then is yet my hope? or [where] shall I see my good?
And where [is] now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
16 Will they go down with me to Hades, or shall we go down together to the tomb? (Sheol h7585)
They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when [our] rest together [is] in the dust. (Sheol h7585)

< Job 17 >