1 M y spirit hath been destroyed, My days extinguished -- graves for me.

My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.

2 I f not -- mockeries with me. And in their provocations mine eye lodgeth.

Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?

3 P lace, I pray Thee, my pledge with Thee; Who is he that striketh hand with me?

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

4 F or their heart Thou hast hidden From understanding, Therefore Thou dost not exalt them.

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

5 F or a portion he sheweth friendship, And the eyes of his sons are consumed.

He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

6 A nd he set me up for a proverb of the peoples, And a wonder before them I am.

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

7 A nd dim from sorrow is mine eye, And my members as a shadow all of them.

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

8 A stonished are the upright at this, And the innocent against the profane Stirreth himself up.

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

9 A nd the righteous layeth hold his way, And the clean of hands addeth strength, And -- dumb are they all.

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

10 R eturn, and come in, I pray you, And I find not among you a wise man.

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

11 M y days have passed by, My devices have been broken off, The possessions of my heart!

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

12 N ight for day they appoint, Light near because of darkness.

They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.

13 I f I wait -- Sheol my house, In darkness I have spread out my couch.

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

14 T o corruption I have called: -- `Thou my father.' `My mother' and `my sister' -- to the worm.

I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.

15 A nd where now my hope? Yea, my hope, who doth behold it?

And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

16 t he parts of Sheol ye go down, If together on the dust we may rest.

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