Job 17
1 My spirit is consumed, and my days are over; the grave is ready for me.
My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.
2 Surely there are mockers with me; my eye must always see their provocation.
Are there not mockers with me? and does not mine eye continue in their provocation?
3 Give now a pledge, be a guarantee for me with yourself; who else is there who will help me?
Lay down now, put me in a guarantor with you; who is he that will shake hands with me?
4 For you, God, have kept their hearts from understanding; therefore, you will not exalt them over me.
For you have hid their heart from understanding: therefore shall you not exalt them.
5 He who denounces his friends for a reward, the eyes of his children will fail.
He that speaks flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
6 But he has made me a byword of the people; they spit in my face.
He has made me also a byword of the people; and in old times I was as a timbrel.
7 My eye is also dim because of sorrow; all my body parts are as thin as shadows.
Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.
8 Upright men will be stunned by this; the innocent man will stir himself up against godless men.
Upright men shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.
9 The righteous man will keep to his way; he who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.
The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that has clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
10 But as for you all, come on now; I will not find a wise man among you.
But as for you all, do all of you return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.
11 My days are past; my plans are shattered, and so are the desires of my heart.
My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
12 These people, these mockers, change the night into day; light is near to darkness.
They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
13 If the only home I hope for is Sheol; and if I have spread my couch in the darkness; (Sheol h7585)
If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness. (Sheol h7585)
14 and if I have said to the pit, 'You are my father,' and to the worm, 'You are my mother or my sister,'
I have said to corruption, You are my father: to the worm, You are my mother, and my sister.
15 where then is my hope? As for my hope, who can see any?
And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
