1“My spirit is broken; my days are extinct; the graveyard is ready for me. (Job 18:5; Ps 88:3)2Surely there are mockers about me, and my eye dwells on their provocation. (1Sa 1:6; Job 12:6)3“Lay down a pledge for me with you; who is there who will put up security for me? (Ps 119:122; Isa 38:14; Heb 7:22)4Since you have closed their hearts to understanding, therefore you will not let them triumph.5He who informs against his friends to get a share of their property— the eyes of his children will fail. (Job 11:20; Job 31:16)6“He has made me a byword of the peoples, and I am one before whom men spit. (De 28:37; Job 30:9; Ps 44:14; Ps 69:11)7My eye has grown dim from vexation, and all my members are like a shadow. (Job 14:2; Ps 6:7; Ps 31:9)8The upright are appalled at this, and the innocent stirs himself up against the godless. (Isa 52:14)9Yet the righteous holds to his way, and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger. (Job 22:30)10But you, come on again, all of you, and I shall not find a wise man among you. (Job 6:29)11My days are past; my plans are broken off, the desires of my heart. (Job 7:6; Job 9:25)12They make night into day: ‘The light,’ they say, ‘is near to the darkness.’[1] (Job 11:17)13If I hope for Sheol as my house, if I make my bed in darkness, (Job 21:13; Ec 12:5)14if I say to the pit, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’15where then is my hope? Who will see my hope?16Will it go down to the bars of Sheol? Shall we descend together into the dust?”[2] (Job 3:17; Job 17:13; Job 21:26; Job 40:13)
Job 17
New International Version
from Biblica1My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave awaits me.2Surely mockers surround me; my eyes must dwell on their hostility.3‘Give me, O God, the pledge you demand. Who else will put up security for me?4You have closed their minds to understanding; therefore you will not let them triumph.5If anyone denounces their friends for reward, the eyes of their children will fail.6‘God has made me a byword to everyone, a man in whose face people spit.7My eyes have grown dim with grief; my whole frame is but a shadow.8The upright are appalled at this; the innocent are aroused against the ungodly.9Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to their ways, and those with clean hands will grow stronger.10‘But come on, all of you, try again! I will not find a wise man among you.11My days have passed, my plans are shattered. Yet the desires of my heart12turn night into day; in the face of the darkness light is near.13If the only home I hope for is the grave, if I spread out my bed in the realm of darkness,14if I 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 death? Will we descend together into the dust?’
Job 17
New International Reader’s Version
from Biblica1My strength is almost gone. I won’t live much longer. A grave is waiting for me.2People who make fun of me are all around me. I’m forced to watch as they attack me with their words.3‘God, please pay the price to let me be set free. Who else would put up money for me?4You have closed the minds of those who are trying to comfort me. They don’t understand that I haven’t done anything wrong. So don’t let them win the argument.5Suppose someone tells lies about their friends to get a reward. Then their own children will suffer for it.6‘God has made an example of me. People spit in my face.7My eyes have grown weak because I’m so sad. My body is so thin it hardly casts a shadow.8People who claim to be honest are shocked when they see me. Those who think they haven’t sinned are stirred up against me. They think I’m ungodly.9But godly people will keep doing what is right. Those who have clean hands will grow stronger.10‘Come on, all of you! Try again! I can’t find a wise person among you.11My life is almost over. My plans are destroyed. Yet the desires of my heart12turn night into day. Even though it’s dark, “Light is nearby.”13Suppose the only home I can hope for is a grave. And suppose I make my bed in the darkness of death.14Suppose I say to the grave, “You are like a father to me.” And suppose I say to its worms, “You are like a mother or sister to me.”15Then what hope do I have? Who can give me any hope?16Will hope go down to the gates of death with me? Will we go down together into the dust of the grave?’