1 M y breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are mine.

¶ My breath is corrupt, my days are cut off, and the grave is ready for me.

2 A re there not mockers around me? and doth mine eye abide in their provocation?

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

3 L ay down now, be thou surety for me with thyself: who is he that striketh hands with me?

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

4 F or thou hast hidden their heart from understanding; therefore thou wilt not exalt.

For with these, thou hast hid their heart from understanding; therefore, thou shalt not exalt them.

5 H e that betrayeth friends for a prey—even the eyes of his children shall fail.

He that speaks flattery to his neighbour, even the eyes of his sons shall fail.

6 A nd he hath made me a proverb of the peoples; and I am become one to be spit on in the face.

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

7 A nd mine eye is dim by reason of grief, and all my members are as a shadow.

My eyes are dim by reason of sorrow, and all my thoughts are as a shadow.

8 U pright men astonished at this, and the innocent shall be stirred up against the ungodly;

Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.

9 B ut the righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall increase in strength.

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 all, pray come on again; and I shall not find one 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 are broken off, the cherished thoughts of my heart.

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

12 T hey change the night into day; the light near in presence of the darkness.

They changed the night into day; the light is short because of the darkness.

13 I f I wait, Sheol is my house; I spread my bed in the darkness:

If I wait, Sheol is my house; I have made my bed in the darkness.

14 I cry to the grave, Thou art my father! to the worm, My mother, and my sister!

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

15 A nd where is then my hope? yea, my hope, who shall see it?

And where shall my hope be now? As for my hope, who shall see it?

16 I t shall go down to the bars of Sheol, when rest shall be together in the dust.

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