1 M y breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.

“My spirit is broken. My days are gone. The grave is ready for me.

2 A re there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?

For sure those with me make fun of me. My eyes see how they laugh at me.

3 L ay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?

“Promise that You will hear me. Who is there that will trust me?

4 F or thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.

For You have kept their heart from understanding, so You will not honor them.

5 H e that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

If one speaks against friends to get money, the eyes of his children also will become weak.

6 H e hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.

“But He has made me an object of shame to the people. Men spit on me.

7 M ine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.

My eyes have become weak with sorrow. All the parts of my body are like a shadow.

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

Men who are right and good will be surprised and afraid at this. He who is without guilt will be moved to go against the sinful.

9 T he righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

But the one who is right with God will hold to his way. And he who has clean hands will become stronger and stronger.

10 B ut as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.

But all of you try again, and I will not find a wise man among you.

11 M y days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.

My days are past. My plans are torn apart, even the wishes of my heart.

12 T hey change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.

They make night into day, saying, ‘The light is near,’ when there is darkness.

13 I f I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.

If I look for the place of the dead as my home, I make 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.

If I say to the grave, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother and my sister,’

15 A nd where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

then where is my hope? Who sees hope for me?

16 T hey shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.

Will it go down with me to the place of the dead? Will we go down together into the dust?”