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

¶ My breath is corrupt, my days are cut off, and 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.

Now there are only mockers with me, upon whose bitterness my eye continues to gaze.

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

Put up now, give me surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?

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

For with these, thou hast hid their heart from understanding; therefore, thou shalt 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 speaks flattery to his neighbour, even the eyes of his sons shall fail.

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

He has made me a byword of the peoples; and before them I have been as a tambourine.

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

My eyes are dim by reason of sorrow, and all my thoughts 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 astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.

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.

The righteous shall hold on to his way, and he that has clean hands shall be 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 return all of you, and come now; for I shall not find one that is wise 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 thoughts were broken off, even the purposes of my heart.

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

They changed the night into day; the light is short because of 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 wait, Sheol is my house; I have made my bed 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,

I have said to the pit, Thou art my father; to the worms, my mother, and my sister.

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

And where shall my hope be now? 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.

They shall go down to the bars of Sheol, and together they shall rest in the dust.