Job 17
1 “My spirit is consumed. My days are extinct and the grave is ready for me.
My spirit shall be wasted, my days shall be shortened, and only the grave remaineth for me.
2 Surely there are mockers with me. My eye dwells on their provocation.
I have not sinned, and my eye abideth in bitterness.
3 “Now give a pledge. Be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?
Deliver me O Lord, and set me beside thee, and let any man’s hand fight against me.
4 For you have hidden their heart from understanding, therefore you will not exalt them.
Thou hast set their heart far from understanding, therefore they shall not be exalted.
5 He who denounces his friends for plunder, even the eyes of his children will fail.
He promiseth a prey to his companions, and the eyes of his children shall fail.
6 “But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face.
He hath made me as it were a byword of the people, and I am an example before them.
7 My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. All my members are as a shadow.
My eye is dim through indignation, and my limbs are brought as it were to nothing.
8 Upright men will be astonished at this. The innocent will stir himself up against the godless.
The just shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall be raised up against the hypocrite.
9 Yet the righteous will hold to his way. He who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.
And the just man shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
10 But as for you all, come back. I will not find a wise man amongst you.
Wherefore be you all converted, and come, and I shall not find among you any wise man.
11 My days are past. My plans are broken off, as are the thoughts of my heart.
My days have passed away, my thoughts are dissipated, tormenting my heart.
12 They change the night into day, saying ‘The light is near’ in the presence of darkness.
They have turned night into day, and after darkness I hope for light again.
If I wait hell is my house, and I have made my bed in darkness. (Sheol h7585)
14 if I have said to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ and ‘My sister,’
If I have said to rottenness: Thou art my father; to worms, my mother and my sister.
15 where then is my hope? As for my hope, who will see it?
Where is now then my expectation, and who considereth my patience?
