Open English Translation JOB Chapter 17

17 My spirit is broken,

my days are extinguished,

≈only the grave is left.

2 Surely there’s mockers with me.

My eye is held by their provocations.

3 Please give yourself to cover my bail.

Who else would put up security for me?

4 You’ve closed their minds from being able to understand,

so therefore you won’t elevate them over me.

5 People who’d denounce their friends for some gain,

should expect their children to be selfish also.

6 He’s made me into a local gossip point.

Someone to spit at in the face.

7 My eyes have become dark from my grief.

≈Every one of my body parts is just like a shadow.

8 Godly people are appalled by this,

≈and innocent people are stirred up against those who’re godless.

9 But those who obey will be able to stay on the correct road,

≈and those who haven’t done anything wrong will become stronger.

10 But all of them and you all may return now and come,

and I wouldn’t find a wise person among you all.

11 My good days have passed.

My plans are shattered,

even my secret desires.

12 They change night into day in their minds—

≈making light seem near while staring into the darkness.

13 If I wait for the grave to become my home,

if I’ve spread out my blankets ready to sleep in the darkness,

14 if I’ve called out and told the pit that it’s my father,

and to the worm that it’s my mother and my sister,

15 then where would my hope be placed?

Who would know that I had any hope?

16 Will they go down to the gates of the grave?

≈Will we go down together into the ground?