Loading…

17 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?”

NIrV

About New International Reader’s Version (1998)

The New International Reader’s Version (NIrV) was developed to help early readers understand the Bible. Begun in 1992, the NIrV is a simplification of the New International Version (NIV). The NIrV uses shorter words and sentences so that those with a typical fourth grade reading level can comprehend what they are reading. The chapters have been separated into shorter sections and most have titles that clearly indicate what the section is all about. The NIrV will be a valuable translation to those for whom English is a second language. The NIrV still relies on the best and oldest copies of the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts for its translation, guaranteeing that those who read it are getting the actual Word of God.

Copyright

Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society.

All rights reserved.

The NIrV text may be quoted for non-commercial usage in any form (written, visual, electronic or audio) up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without the express written permission of the publisher, providing the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible nor do the verses quoted account for twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total text of the work in which they are quoted.

Notice of copyright must appear on the title or copyright page of the work as follows:

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL READER’S VERSION™. Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

When quotations from the NIrV text are used in non-saleable media, such as church bulletins, orders of service, posters, transparencies or similar media, a complete copyright notice is not required, but the initials (NIrV) must appear at the end of each quotation.

Any commentary or other Biblical reference work produced for commercial sale that uses the New International Reader’s Version must obtain written permission for use of the NIrV text.

Permission requests for commercial use within the U.S. and Canada that exceed the above guidelines must be directed to, and approved in writing by, Zondervan, 5300 Patterson Ave. S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530.

Permission requests for commercial use within the U.K., EEC, and EFTA countries that exceed the above guidelines must be directed to, and approved in writing by, Hodder Headline Plc., 338 Euston Road, London NW1 3BH, England.

Permission requests for non-commercial usage that exceed the above guidelines must be directed to, and approved in writing by, International Bible Society, 1820 Jet Stream Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921.

Support Info

nirv

Table of Contents