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

2 F or sure those with me make fun of me. My eyes see how they laugh at me.

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

4 F or You have kept their heart from understanding, so You will not honor them.

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

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

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

8 M en 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 B ut 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 all of you try again, and I will not find a wise man among you.

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

12 T hey make night into day, saying, ‘The light is near,’ when there is darkness.

13 I f I look for the place of the dead as my home, I make my bed in the darkness.

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

15 t hen where is my hope? Who sees hope for me?

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