Job

The book of Job, chapter 17, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 17 New English Translation

   1 My spirit is broken, my days have faded out, the grave awaits me.
   2 Surely mockery is with me; my eyes must dwell on their hostility.
   3 Make then my pledge with you. Who else will put up security for me?
   4 Because you have closed their minds to understanding, therefore you will not exalt them.
   5 If a man denounces his friends for personal gain, the eyes of his children will fail.
   6 He has made me a byword to people, I am the one in whose face they spit.
   7 My eyes have grown dim with grief; my whole frame is but a shadow.
   8 Upright men are appalled at this; the innocent man is troubled with the godless.
   9 But the righteous man holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.

Anticipation of Death

   10 "But turn, all of you, and come now! I will not find a wise man among you.
   11 My days have passed, my plans are shattered, even the desires of my heart.
   12 These men change night into day; they say, 'The light is near in the face of darkness.'
   13 If I hope for the grave to be my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness,
   14 If I cry to corruption, 'You are my father,' and to the worm, 'My Mother, ' or 'My sister, '
   15 where then is my hope? And my hope, who sees it?
   16 Will it go down to the barred gates of death? Will we descend together into the dust?"

King James Version

   1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.
   2 Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?
   3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?
   4 For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.
   5 He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
   6 He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.
   7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.
   8 Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.
   9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
   10 But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.
   11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
   12 They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
   13 If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.
   14 I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.
   15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
   16 They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.