Job 17

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

My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave is ready for me.

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

Yet truly those that mock are with me, and on their offendings must my eye rest.

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.

And thou, [Creator!] attend, I pray thee, be my surety with thyself: who else is there that would strike 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 concealed their heart against intelligence: therefore art thou not exalted [through 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].

Every one of them speaketh deceptively to his friends: may also the eyes of his children 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 placed me here as a by-word unto nations; and I become openly as a place of abomination.

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.

Therefore is my eye dim from vexation, and my limbs are all of them like 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 must be astonished at this, and the innocent must arouse himself against the hypocrite.

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.

Yet will the righteous hold firmly on to his way; and he that is clean of hands will acquire additional 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 all of you, do only return, and come but [to me]: and yet I shall not find among you one wise man.

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 resolves are broken off, [even the thoughts]—the possessions 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.

These would change the night into day, the light as near in the presence of darkness.—

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

When I hope for the nether world as my house; in the darkness have I spread my couch; (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].’

When I call to corruption, Thou art my father: Thou art my mother, and my sister, to the worms.

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]

Ay, where is then my hope? as for my hope, who will see it [fulfilled]?

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)

Let then my limbs sink down to the nether world: truly in the dust alone there is rest for all. (Sheol h7585)