1 M y spirit is broken, my days are spent (snuffed out); the grave is ready for me.

My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct, The grave is ready for me.

2 S urely there are mockers and mockery around me, and my eye dwells on their obstinacy, insults, and resistance.

Surely there are mockers with me, And mine eye dwelleth upon their provocation.

3 G ive me a pledge with Yourself; who is there that will give security for me?

Give now a pledge, be surety for me with thyself; Who is there that will strike hands with me?

4 B ut their hearts You have closed to understanding; therefore You will not let them triumph.

For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: Therefore shalt thou not exalt them.

5 H e who denounces his friends a prey and get a share, the eyes of his children shall fail.

He that denounceth his friends for a prey, Even the eyes of his children shall fail.

6 B ut He has made me a byword among the people, and they spit before my face.

But he hath made me a byword of the people; And they spit in my face.

7 M y eye has grown dim because of grief, and all my members are like a shadow.

Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, And all my members are as a shadow.

8 U pright men shall be astonished and appalled at this, and the innocent shall stir himself up against the godless and polluted.

Upright men shall be astonished at this, And the innocent shall stir up himself against the godless.

9 Y et shall the righteous (those upright and in right standing with God) hold to their ways, and he who has clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger.

Yet shall the righteous hold on his way, And he that hath clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger.

10 B ut as for you, come on again, all of you, though I find not a wise man among you.

But as for you all, come on now again; And I shall not find a wise man among you.

11 M y days are past, my purposes and plans are frustrated; even the thoughts (desires and possessions) of my heart.

My days are past, my purposes are broken off, Even the thoughts of my heart.

12 T hese extend from the night into the day, the light is short because of darkness.

They change the night into day: The light, say they, is near unto the darkness.

13 B ut if I look to Sheol (the unseen state) as my abode, if I spread my couch in the darkness,

If I look for Sheol as my house; If I have spread my couch in the darkness;

14 I f I say to the grave and corruption, You are my father, and to the worm, You are my mother and my sister,

If I have said to corruption, Thou art my father; To the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister;

15 W here then is my hope? And if I have hope, who will see ?

Where then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it?

16 s hall go down to the bars of Sheol (the unseen state) when once there is rest in the dust.

It shall go down to the bars of Sheol, When once there is rest in the dust.