Job Appeals from Men to God
1My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.
2Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?
3Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?
4For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.
5He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
6He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.
7Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.
8Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.
9The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
10But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.
11My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
12They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
13If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.
14I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.
15And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
16They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Job Prepares for Death
1 “My spirit is consumed. My days are extinct, And the grave is ready for me.
2 Surely there are mockers with me. My eye dwells on their provocation.
3 “Now give a pledge, be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?
4 For you have hidden their heart from understanding, Therefore you shall not exalt them.
5 He who denounces his friends for a prey, Even the eyes of his children shall fail.
6 “But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face.
7 My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. All my members are as a shadow.
8 Upright men shall be astonished at this. The innocent shall stir up himself against the godless.
9 Yet shall the righteous hold on his way. He who has clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger.
10 But as for you all, come on now again; I shall not find a wise man among you.
11 My days are past, my plans are broken off, as are the thoughts of my heart.
12 They change the night into day, saying ‘The light is near’ in the presence of 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, ‘You are my father;’ to the worm, ‘My mother,’ and ‘my sister;’
15 where then is my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
16 Shall it go down with me to the gates of Sheol, or descend together into the dust?”
Job Prepares for Death
1 “My spirit is broken; my days are extinguished;
the grave awaits me.
2 Surely mockers surround me,
and my eyes must gaze at their rebellion.
3 Give me, I pray, the pledge You demand.
Who else will be my guarantor?
4 You have closed their minds to understanding;
therefore You will not exalt them.
5 If a man denounces his friends for a price,
the eyes of his children will fail.
6 He has made me a byword among the people,
a man in whose face they spit.
7 My eyes have grown dim with grief,
and my whole body is but a shadow.
8 The upright are appalled at this,
and the innocent are stirred against the godless.
9 Yet a righteous one holds to his way,
and the one with clean hands grows stronger.
10 But come back and try again, all of you.
For I will not find a wise man among you.
11 My days have passed; my plans are broken off—
even the desires of my heart.
12 They have turned night into day,
making light seem near in the face of darkness.
13 If I look for Sheol as my home,
if I spread out my bed in darkness,
14 and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’
and to the worm, ‘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?
Will we go down together into the dust?”
Job Appeals from Men to God
1My spirit hath been destroyed, My days extinguished -- graves are for me.
2If not -- mockeries are with me. And in their provocations mine eye lodgeth.
3Place, I pray Thee, my pledge with Thee; Who is he that striketh hand with me?
4For their heart Thou hast hidden From understanding, Therefore Thou dost not exalt them.
5For a portion he sheweth friendship, And the eyes of his sons are consumed.
6And he set me up for a proverb of the peoples, And a wonder before them I am.
7And dim from sorrow is mine eye, And my members as a shadow all of them.
8Astonished are the upright at this, And the innocent against the profane Stirreth himself up.
9And the righteous layeth hold on his way, And the clean of hands addeth strength, And -- dumb are they all.
10Return, and come in, I pray you, And I find not among you a wise man.
11My days have passed by, My devices have been broken off, The possessions of my heart!
12Night for day they appoint, Light is near because of darkness.
13If I wait -- Sheol is my house, In darkness I have spread out my couch.
14To corruption I have called: -- 'Thou art my father.' 'My mother' and 'my sister' -- to the worm.
15And where is now my hope? Yea, my hope, who doth behold it?
16To the parts of Sheol ye go down, If together on the dust we may rest.
