Job 17

1My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.footnote a

2Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?footnote b

3Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?

4For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.

5He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

6He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.footnote c

7Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.footnote d

8Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.

9The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.footnote e

10But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.

11My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.footnote f

12They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.footnote g

13If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.

14I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.footnote h

15And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

16They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.

Job Prepares for Death

1“My spirit is broken; my days are extinguished;the grave awaits me. 2Surely mockers surround me,and my eyes must gaze at their rebellion.

3Give me, I pray, the pledge You demand.Who else will be my guarantor? 4You have closed their minds to understanding;therefore You will not exalt them. 5If a man denounces his friends for a price,the eyes of his children will fail.

6He has made me a byword among the people,a man in whose face they spit. 7My eyes have grown dim with grief,and my whole body is but a shadow. 8The upright are appalled at this,and the innocent are stirred against the godless. 9Yet a righteous one holds to his way,and the one with clean hands grows stronger. 10But come back and try again, all of you.For I will not find a wise man among you.

11My days have passed; my plans are broken off—even the desires of my heart. 12They have turned night into day,making light seem near in the face of darkness. 13If I look for Sheol as my home,if I spread out my bed in darkness, 14and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’ 15where then is my hope?Who can see any hope for me? 16Will it go down to the gates of Sheol?Will we go down together into the dust?”