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

“My spirit is consumed. My days are extinct, And the grave is ready for me.

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

Surely there are mockers with me. My eye dwells on their provocation.

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

“Now give a pledge, be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?

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

For you have hidden their heart from understanding, Therefore you shall not exalt them.

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

He who denounces his friends for plunder, 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.

“But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face.

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

My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. 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 astonished at this. The innocent shall stir up himself against the godless.

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 hold on his way. 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 all, come on now again; I shall not find 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 plans are broken off, as are the thoughts of my heart.

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

They change the night into day, saying ‘The light is near’ in the presence of darkness.

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

If I look for Sheol as my house, if I have 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 have said to corruption, ‘You are my father;’ to the worm, ‘My mother,’ and ‘my sister;’

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

where then is 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.

Shall it go down with me to the gates of Sheol, or descend together into the dust?”