An Appeal to God as Witness

16:18 “O earth, do not cover my blood,47

nor let there be a secret48 place for my cry.

16:19 Even now my witness49 is in heaven;

my advocate50 is on high.

16:20 My intercessor is my friend51

as my eyes pour out52 tears to God;

16:21 and53 he contends with God on behalf of man

as a man54 pleads55 for his friend.

16:22 For the years that lie ahead are few,56

and then I will go on the way of no return.57

17:1 My spirit is broken,1

my days have faded out,2

the grave3 awaits me.

17:2 Surely mockery4 is with me;5

my eyes must dwell on their hostility.6

17:3 Make then my pledge7 with you.

Who else will put up security for me?8

17:4 Because9 you have closed their10 minds to understanding,

therefore you will not exalt them.11

17:5 If a man denounces his friends for personal gain,12

the eyes of his children will fail.

17:6 He has made me13 a byword14 to people,

I am the one in whose face they spit.15

17:7 My eyes have grown dim16 with grief;

my whole frame17 is but a shadow.

17:8 Upright men are appalled18 at this;

the innocent man is troubled19 with the godless.

17:9 But the righteous man holds to his way,

and the one with clean hands grows stronger.20