17 1 Job sayeth that he consumeth away, and yet doth patiently abide it. 10 He exhorteth his friends to repentance, 13 showing that he looketh out for death.
1 My breath is corrupt: my days are cut off, and the grave is ready for me.
2 There are none but [a]mockers with me, and mine eye continueth in [b]their bitterness.
3 [c]Lay down now, and put me in surety for thee: who is he, that [d]will touch mine hand?
4 For thou hast hid their heart from [e]understanding: therefore shalt thou not set them up on high.
5 [f]For the eyes of his children shall fail, that speaketh flattery to his friends.
6 He hath also made me a [g]byword of the people, and I am as a tabret [h]before them.
7 Mine eye therefore is dim for grief, and all my strength is like a shadow.
8 The righteous shall be astonied at [i]this, and the innocent shall be moved against the hypocrite.
9 But the righteous will hold his [j]way, and he whose hands are pure, shall increase his strength.
10 All [k]you therefore turn you, and come now, and I shall not find one wise among you.
11 My days are past, mine enterprises are broken, and the thoughts of mine heart
12 Have changed the [l]night for the day, and the light that approached, for darkness.
13 Though I hope, [m]yet the grave shall be mine house, and I shall make my bed in the dark.
14 I shall say to corruption, Thou art my [n]father, and to the worm, Thou art my mother and my sister.
15 Where is then now mine hope? or who shall consider the thing that I hoped for?
16 [o]They shall go down into the bottom of the pit: surely it shall lie together in the dust.
Footnotes
- Job 17:2 Instead of comfort, being now at death’s door, he had but them that mocked at him, and discouraged him.
- Job 17:2 I see still that they seek but to vex me.
- Job 17:3 He reasoneth with God as a man beside himself, to the intent that his cause might be brought to light.
- Job 17:3 And answers for thee?
- Job 17:4 That these mine afflictions are thy just judgments, though man know not the cause.
- Job 17:5 He that flattereth a man, and only judgeth him happy in his prosperity, shall not himself only but in his posterity be punished.
- Job 17:6 God hath made all the world to speak of me, because of mine afflictions.
- Job 17:6 That is, as a continual sound in their ears.
- Job 17:8 To wit, when they see the godly punished: but in the end they shalt come to understanding, and know what shall be the reward of the hypocrite.
- Job 17:9 That is, will not be discouraged, considering that the godly are punished as well as the wicked.
- Job 17:10 Job speaketh to them three that came to comfort him.
- Job 17:12 That is, have brought me sorrow instead of comfort.
- Job 17:13 Though I should hope to come from adversity to prosperity, as your discourse pretendeth.
- Job 17:14 I have no more hope in father, mother, sister, or any worldly thing: for the dust and worms shall be to me instead of them.
- Job 17:16 All worldly hope and prosperity fail which you say, are only signs of God’s favor: but seeing that these things perish, I set mine hope in God and in the life everlasting.