Job 17

Job declares that his spirit is broken and his days are spent. He asks God to lay down a pledge for him, since no friend will vouch for him, and sees the grave as his only house and corruption as his father.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.	"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?	Are there not mockers with me? And does not my 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?	Lay down now, put me in a surety with you; who is he that will strike hands with me?
4	For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.	For you have hidden their heart from understanding; therefore shall you not exalt them.
5	He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.	He that speaks 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.	He has made me also a byword of the people; and before I was as a tabret.
7	Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.	My 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.	Upright men shall be astonished 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.	The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that has 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.	But as for you all, do 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.	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.	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.	If I wait, the grave is my 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.	I have said to corruption, 'You are my father'; to the worm, 'You are my mother, and my sister.'
15	And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?	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.	They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust."