Job 17

1“My spirit is broken; my days are extinguished; the grave awaits me.

2Surely mockers surround me, and my eyes must gaze at their rebellion.

3Give me, I pray, the pledge You demand. Who else will be my guarantor?

4You have closed their minds to understanding; therefore You will not exalt them.

5If a man denounces his friends for a price, the eyes of his children will fail.

6He has made me a byword among the people, a man in whose face they spit.

7My eyes have grown dim with grief, and my whole body is but a shadow.

8The upright are appalled at this, and the innocent are stirred against the godless.

9Yet a righteous one holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.

10But come back and try again, all of you. For I will not find a wise man among you.

11My days have passed; my plans are broken off—even the desires of my heart.

12They have turned night into day, making light seem near in the face of darkness.

13If I look for Sheol as my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness,

14and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’

15where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?

16Will it go down to the gates of Sheol? Will we go down together into the dust?”

1A prayer of David. Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer—it comes from lips free of deceit.

2May my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right.

3You have tried my heart; You have visited me in the night. You have tested me and found no evil; I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.

4As for the deeds of men—by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.

5My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.

6I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.

7Show the wonders of Your loving devotion, You who save by Your right hand those who seek refuge from their foes.

8Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings

9from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.

10They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.

11They have tracked us down, and now surround us; their eyes are set to cast us to the ground,

12like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.

13Arise, O LORD, confront them! Bring them to their knees; deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,

14from such men, O LORD, by Your hand—from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.

15As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.