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

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

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

Surely there are mockers and mockery around me, and my eye dwells on their obstinacy, insults, and resistance.

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

Give me a pledge with Yourself; who is there that will give security for me?

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

But their hearts You have closed to understanding; therefore You will not let them triumph.

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

He who denounces his friends a prey and get a share, 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.

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

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

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

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

Upright men shall be astonished and appalled at this, and the innocent shall stir himself up against the godless and polluted.

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

Yet 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.

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

But as for you, come on again, all of you, though I find not a 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 and plans are frustrated; even the thoughts (desires and possessions) of my heart.

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

These extend from the night into the day, the light is short because of darkness.

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

But if I look to Sheol (the unseen state) as my abode, if I spread my couch in the darkness,

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

If I say to the grave and corruption, You are my father, and to the worm, You are my mother and my sister,

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

Where then is my hope? And if I have hope, who will see ?

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

shall go down to the bars of Sheol (the unseen state) when once there is rest in the dust.