Job 17

1 “My (life/time to live) is almost ended; I have no strength left; my grave is waiting for me.

My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are mine.

2 Those who are around me are making fun of me; I [SYN] watch them while they (taunt/make fun of) me.”

Are there not mockers around me? and doth [not] mine eye abide in their provocation?

3 “God, [it is as though I am in prison; ] please pay the money in order that I may be released, because there is certainly no one else who will help me.

Lay down now [a pledge], be thou surety for me with thyself: who is he that striketh hands with me?

4 You have prevented my friends from understanding [what is true about me]; do not allow them to triumph over me, [saying that I have done things that are wrong].

For thou hast hidden their heart from understanding; therefore thou wilt not exalt [them].

5 [Our ancestors often said, ‘It often happens that] when someone betrays his friends in order to get some of their property, it is that person’s children who will be punished for it;’ [so I desire/hope that will be true of these friends of mine who are lying about me].

He that betrayeth friends for a prey — even the eyes of his children shall fail.

6 “But now people use that saying of our ancestors when they talk about me; they spit in my face [to insult me].

And he hath made me a proverb of the peoples; and I am become one to be spit on in the face.

7 (My sight has become dim/I cannot see well) because I am extremely sad, and my arms and legs are [very thin, with the result that they almost do not cast] [MET] a shadow.

And mine eye is dim by reason of grief, and all my members are as a shadow.

8 Those who [say that they] are good/righteous are shocked [when they see what has happened to me], and people who [say that they] (are innocent/have not done anything that is wrong) say that I am wicked/godless and should be punished.

Upright men [shall be] astonished at this, and the innocent shall be stirred up against the ungodly;

9 Those who [claim that they] are righteous will continue to do what [they think] is right, and those [who say] they have not sinned will continue to become stronger.

But the righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall increase in strength.

10 “But even if all of those people came [and stood in front of me], I would not find anyone among them who is wise.

But as for you all, pray come on again; and I shall not find one wise man among you.

11 My (life/time to live) is almost ended; I have not been able to do the things that I confidently expected to do; [I have not been able to accomplish] anything that I [SYN] desired.

My days are past, my purposes are broken off, the cherished thoughts of my heart.

12 My friends do not know when it is night and when it is day; when it is night, they claim that it is daylight; when it is becoming dark, they claim it is becoming light.

They change the night into day; the light [they imagine] near in presence of the darkness.

13 If my home will be the place where dead people are, where will I sleep in the darkness? (Sheol h7585)

If I wait, Sheol is my house; I spread my bed in the darkness: (Sheol h7585)

14 I may say to the grave, ‘You will be [like] a father to me,’ and say to the maggots [that will eat my body], ‘You will be [like] a mother or younger sisters to me [because you will be where I will always be].’

I cry to the grave, Thou art my father! to the worm, My mother, and my sister!

15 But if I say those things, (will there be anything good that I can confidently expect to happen to me?/there will be nothing good that I can confidently expect to happen to me.) [RHQ] (Is there anyone who knows anything good that I can expect when I am in the grave?/No one knows anything good that I can expect when I am in the grave.) [RHQ]

And where is then my hope? yea, my hope, who shall see it?

16 After I descend to the place where the dead are, (will I be able to confidently expect anything good there?/I certainly will not be able to confidently expect anything good there.) [RHQ] [It will be as though] [RHQ] I and the things I hope for will descend with me into the dust [where the dead are].” (Sheol h7585)

It shall go down to the bars of Sheol, when [our] rest shall be together in the dust. (Sheol h7585)