Job 17
1 “My spirit is consumed. My days are extinct and 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 dwells on their provocation.
Are there not mockers with me? and does not my eye continue in their provocation?
3 “Now give a pledge. Be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?
Lay down now, put me in a surety with you; who is he that will strike hands with me?
4 For you have hidden their heart from understanding, therefore you will not exalt them.
For you have hid their heart from understanding: therefore shall you not exalt them.
5 He who denounces his friends for plunder, even 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 aforetime I was as a tabret.
7 My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. All my members are as a shadow.
My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.
8 Upright men will be astonished at this. The innocent will stir himself up against the godless.
Upright men shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.
9 Yet the righteous will hold 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 back. I will not find a wise man among you.
But as for you all, do you return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.
11 My days are past. My plans are broken off, as are the thoughts of my heart.
My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
12 They change the night into day, saying ‘The light is near’ in the presence of darkness.
They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
If I wait, the grave is my house: I have made my bed in the darkness. (Sheol h7585)
14 if I have said to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ and ‘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 will see it?
And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
