1 “My spirit is broken; my days are extinct;

the graveyard is ready for me.

2 Surely there are mockers about me,

and my eye dwells on their provocation.

3 “Lay down a pledge for me with you;

who is there who will put up security for me?

4 Since you have closed their hearts to understanding,

therefore you will not let them triumph.

5 He who informs against his friends to get a share of their property—

the eyes of his children will fail.

6 “He has made me a byword of the peoples,

and I am one before whom men spit.

7 My eye has grown dim from vexation,

and all my members are like a shadow.

8 The upright are appalled at this,

and the innocent stirs himself up against the godless.

9 Yet the righteous holds to his way,

and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger.

10 But you, come on again, all of you,

and I shall not find a wise man among you.

11 My days are past; my plans are broken off,

the desires of my heart.

12 They make night into day:

‘The light,’ they say, ‘is near to the darkness.’

13 If I hope for Sheol as my house,

if I make my bed in darkness,

14 if I say to the pit, ‘You are my father,’

and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’

15 where then is my hope?

Who will see my hope?

16 Will it go down to the bars of Sheol?

Shall we descend together into the dust?”

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.

1 “My spirit is crushed,

and my life is nearly snuffed out.

The grave is ready to receive me.

2 I am surrounded by mockers.

I watch how bitterly they taunt me.

3 “You must defend my innocence, O God,

since no one else will stand up for me.

4 You have closed their minds to understanding,

but do not let them triumph.

5 They betray their friends for their own advantage,

so let their children faint with hunger.

6 “God has made a mockery of me among the people;

they spit in my face.

7 My eyes are swollen with weeping,

and I am but a shadow of my former self.

8 The virtuous are horrified when they see me.

The innocent rise up against the ungodly.

9 The righteous keep moving forward,

and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.

10 “As for all of you, come back with a better argument,

though I still won’t find a wise man among you.

11 My days are over.

My hopes have disappeared.

My heart’s desires are broken.

12 These men say that night is day;

they claim that the darkness is light.

13 What if I go to the grave

and make my bed in darkness?

14 What if I call the grave my father,

and the maggot my mother or my sister?

15 Where then is my hope?

Can anyone find it?

16 No, my hope will go down with me to the grave.

We will rest together in the dust!”

1 “My spirit is broken, My days are extinguished,

The grave is ready for me.

2 Are not mockers with me?

And does not my eye dwell on their provocation?

3 “Now put down a pledge for me with Yourself.

Who is he who will shake hands with me?

4 For You have hidden their heart from understanding;

Therefore You will not exalt them.

5 He who speaks flattery to his friends,

Even the eyes of his children will fail.

6 “But He has made me a byword of the people,

And I have become one in whose face men spit.

7 My eye has also grown dim because of sorrow,

And all my members are like shadows.

8 Upright men are astonished at this,

And the innocent stirs himself up against the hypocrite.

9 Yet the righteous will hold to his way,

And he who has clean hands will be stronger and stronger.

10 “But please, come back again, all of you,

For I shall not 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 near,’ they say, in the face of darkness.

13 If I wait for the grave as my house,

If I make my bed in the darkness,

14 If I say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’

And to the worm, ‘You are my mother and my sister,’

15 Where then is my hope?

As for my hope, who can see it?

16 Will they go down to the gates of Sheol?

Shall we have rest together in the dust?”

1 My spirit is broken;

the days of my life are almost gone.

The grave is waiting for me.

2 Those who laugh at me surround me;

I watch them insult me.

3 “God, make me a promise.

No one will make a pledge for me.

4 You have closed their minds to understanding.

Do not let them win over me.

5 People might speak against their friends for money,

but if they do, the eyes of their children go blind.

6 “God has made my name a curse word;

people spit in my face.

7 My sight has grown weak because of my sadness,

and my body is as thin as a shadow.

8 Honest people are upset about this;

innocent people are upset with those who do wrong.

9 But those who do right will continue to do right,

and those whose hands are not dirty with sin will grow stronger.

10 “But, all of you, come and try again!

I do not find a wise person among you.

11 My days are gone, and my plans have been destroyed,

along with the desires of my heart.

12 These men think night is day;

when it is dark, they say, ‘Light is near.’

13 If the only home I hope for is the grave,

if I spread out my bed in darkness,

14 if I say to the grave, ‘You are my father,’

and to the worm, ‘You are my mother’ or ‘You are my sister,’

15 where, then, is my hope?

Who can see any hope for me?

16 Will hope go down to the gates of death?

Will we go down together into the dust?”

1 My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct,

The grave is ready for me.

2 Surely there are mockers with me,

And mine eye dwelleth upon their provocation.

3 Give now a pledge, be surety for me with thyself;

Who is there that will strike hands with me?

4 For thou hast hid their heart from understanding:

Therefore shalt thou not exalt them.

5 He that denounceth his friends for a prey,

Even the eyes of his children shall fail.

6 But he hath made me a byword of the people;

And they spit in my face.

7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow,

And all my members are as a shadow.

8 Upright men shall be astonished at this,

And the innocent shall stir up himself against the godless.

9 Yet shall the righteous hold on his way,

And he that hath clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger.

10 But as for you all, come on now again;

And I shall not find a 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, say they, is near unto the darkness.

13 If I look for Sheol as my house;

If I have spread my couch in the darkness;

14 If I have said to corruption, Thou art my father;

To the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister;

15 Where then is my hope?

And as for my hope, who shall see it?

16 It shall go down to the bars of Sheol,

When once there is rest in the dust.

1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are mine. 2 Are there not mockers around me? and doth not mine eye abide in their provocation? 3 Lay down now a pledge, be thou surety for me with thyself: who is he that striketh hands with me? 4 For thou hast hidden their heart from understanding; therefore thou wilt not exalt them. 5 He that betrayeth friends for a prey—even the eyes of his children shall fail. 6 And he hath made me a proverb of the peoples; and I am become one to be spit on in the face. 7 And mine eye is dim by reason of grief, and all my members are as a shadow. 8 Upright men shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall be stirred up against the ungodly; 9 But the righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall increase in strength.

10 But as for you all, pray come on again; and I shall not find one wise man among you. 11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, the cherished thoughts of my heart. 12 They change the night into day; the light they imagine near in presence of the darkness. 13 If I wait, Sheol is my house; I spread my bed in the darkness: 14 I cry to the grave, Thou art my father! to the worm, My mother, and my sister! 15 And where is then my hope? yea, my hope, who shall see it? 16 It shall go down to the bars of Sheol, when our rest shall be together in the dust.

1 “My spirit is broken. 

My days have been snuffed out. 

The cemetery ⸤is waiting⸥ for me. 

2 Certainly, mockers are around me. 

My eyes are focused on their opposition. 

3 Please guarantee my bail yourself. 

Who else will guarantee it with a handshake? 

4 You have closed their minds so that they cannot understand. 

That is why you will not honor them. 

5 (Whoever turns in friends to get their property 

should have his children’s eyesight fail.) 

6 “Now he has made me a laughingstock for many people. 

Now they spit in my face. 

7 Now my eyes are blurred from grief. 

Now all my limbs are like a shadow. 

8 Decent people are shocked by this, 

and it stirs up the innocent against godless people. 

9 Yet, the righteous person clings to his way, 

and the one with clean hands grows stronger. 

10 “But now, all of you, come and try again! 

I won’t find one wise man among you. 

11 My days are passing by. 

My plans are broken. 

My dreams ⸤are shattered⸥. 

12 You say that night is day. 

Light has nearly become darkness. 

13 If I look for the grave as my home 

and make my bed in the darkness, 

14 if I say to the pit, ‘You are my father,’ 

and to the worm, ‘You are my mother and sister,’ 

15 then where is my hope? 

Can you see any hope left in me? 

16 Will hope go down with me to the gates of the grave? 

Will my hope rest with me in the dust?” 

1 My spirit is broken.

My days are extinguished.

A graveyard awaits me.

2 Surely mockers surround me

and my eyes must gaze at their rebellion.

3 Make arrangements! Put up security for me.

Who else will be my sponsor?

4 You have closed their minds to understanding,

therefore You will not honor them.

5 If a man informs on his friends for a price,

the eyes of his children will fail.

6 He has made me an object of scorn to the people;

I have become a man people spit at.

7 My eyes have grown dim from grief,

and my whole body has become but a shadow.

8 The upright are appalled at this,

and the innocent are roused against the godless.

9 Yet the righteous person will hold to his way,

and the one whose hands are clean will grow stronger.

10 But come back and try again, all of you.

I will not find a wise man among you.

11 My days have slipped by;

my plans have been ruined,

even the things dear to my heart.

12 They turned night into day

and made light seem near in the face of darkness.

13 If I await Sheol as my home,

spread out my bed in darkness,

14 and say to corruption: You are my father,

and to the maggot: My mother or my sister,

15 where then is my hope?

Who can see any hope for me?

16 Will it go down to the gates of Sheol,

or will we descend together to the dust?

1 My spirit is broken, my days are extinct,

the grave is ready for me.

2 Surely there are mockers around me,

and my eye dwells on their provocation.

3 “Lay down a pledge for me with yourself;

who is there that will give surety for me?

4 Since you have closed their minds to understanding,

therefore you will not let them triumph.

5 Those who denounce friends for reward—

the eyes of their children will fail.

6 “He has made me a byword of the peoples,

and I am one before whom people spit.

7 My eye has grown dim from grief,

and all my members are like a shadow.

8 The upright are appalled at this,

and the innocent stir themselves up against the godless.

9 Yet the righteous hold to their way,

and they that have clean hands grow stronger and stronger.

10 But you, come back now, all of you,

and I shall not find a sensible person among you.

11 My days are past, my plans are broken off,

the desires of my heart.

12 They make night into day;

‘The light,’ they say, ‘is near to the darkness.’

13 If I look for Sheol as my house,

if I spread my couch in darkness,

14 if I say to the Pit, ‘You are my father,’

and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’

15 where then is my hope?

Who will see my hope?

16 Will it go down to the bars of Sheol?

Shall we descend together into the dust?”

1 “My spirit is pulled down; my days are extinguished;

the graveyard is for me.

2 Surely mockery is with me,

and my eye rests on their provocation.

3 Please lay down a pledge for me with yourself;

who is he who will give security for my hand?

4 Indeed, you have closed their mind from understanding;

therefore, you will not let them triumph.

5 He denounces friends for reward,

so his children’s eyes will fail.

6 “And he has made me a proverb for the peoples,

and I am one before whom people spit.

7 And my eye has grown dim from grief,

and the limbs of my body are all like a shadow.

8 The upright are appalled at this,

and the innocent excites himself over the godless.

9 But the righteous holds on to his way,

and he who has clean hands increases in strength.

10 But all of you must return—please come!

But I shall not find a wise person among you.

11 “My days are past; my plans are broken down—

even the desires of my heart.

12 They make night into day,

saying, ‘Light is near to darkness.’

13 If I hope for Sheol as my house,

if I spread my couch in the darkness,

14 if I call to the pit, ‘You are my father,’

to the maggot, ‘You are my mother or my sister,’

15 where then is my hope?

And who will see my hope?

16 Will they go down to the bars of Sheol?

Or shall we descend together into the dust?”

1 My strength is almost gone.

I won’t live much longer.

A grave is waiting for me.

2 People 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 have me set free.

Who else would put up money for me?

4 You 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.

5 Suppose a man tells lies about his friends to get a reward.

Then his own children will suffer for it.

6 “God has made everyone laugh at me.

People spit in my face.

7 My eyes have grown weak because I’m so sad.

My body is so thin it hardly casts a shadow.

8 Those 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.

9 But 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.

11 My life is almost over. My plans are destroyed.

And so are the longings of my heart.

12 People like you turn night into day.

Even though it’s dark you say,

‘Light is nearby.’

13 Suppose the only home I can hope for is a grave.

And suppose I make my bed in the darkness of death.

14 Suppose 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.’

15 Then what hope do I have?

Who can give me any hope?

16 Will hope go down to the gates of death with me?

Will we go down together into the dust of the grave?”

1 “My spirit is broken, my days are extinguished,

The grave is ready for me.

2 “Surely mockers are with me,

And my eye gazes on their provocation.

3 “Lay down, now, a pledge for me with Yourself;

Who is there that will be my guarantor?

4 “For You have kept their heart from understanding,

Therefore You will not exalt them.

5 “He who informs against friends for a share of the spoil,

The eyes of his children also will languish.

6 “But He has made me a byword of the people,

And I am one at whom men spit.

7 “My eye has also grown dim because of grief,

And all my members are as a shadow.

8 “The upright will be appalled at this,

And the innocent will stir up himself against the godless.

9 “Nevertheless the righteous will hold to his way,

And he who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.

10 “But come again all of you now,

For I do not find a wise man among you.

11 “My days are past, my plans are torn apart,

Even the wishes of my heart.

12 “They make night into day, saying,

‘The light is near,’ in the presence of darkness.

13 “If I look for Sheol as my home,

I make my bed in the darkness;

14 If I call to the pit, ‘You are my father’;

To the worm, ‘my mother and my sister’;

15 Where now is my hope?

And who regards my hope?

16 “Will it go down with me to Sheol?

Shall we together go down into the dust?”