The Book of Job

My breath is corrupt: my dayes are cut off, and the graue is readie for me.

There are none but mockers with mee, and mine eye continueth in their bitternesse.

Lay downe nowe and put me in suretie for thee: who is hee, that will touch mine hand?

For thou hast hid their heart from vnderstanding: therefore shalt thou not set them vp on hie.

For the eyes of his children shall faile, that speaketh flattery to his friends.

Hee hath also made mee a byword of the people, and I am as a Tabret before them.

Mine eye therefore is dimme for griefe, and all my strength is like a shadowe.

The righteous shalbe astonied at this, and the innocent shalbe moued against ye hypocrite.

But the righteous wil holde his way, and he whose hands are pure, shall increase his strength.

All you therefore turne you, and come nowe, and I shall not finde one wise among you.

My dayes are past, mine enterprises are broken, and the thoughts of mine heart

Haue changed the nyght for the day, and the light that approched, for darkenesse.

Though I hope, yet the graue shall bee mine house, and I shall make my bed in the darke.

I shall say to corruption, Thou art my father, and to the worme, Thou art my mother and my sister.

Where is then now mine hope? or who shall consider the thing, that I hoped for?

They shall goe downe into the bottome of the pit: surely it shall lye together in the dust.

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

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

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

For you have hidden their heart from understanding, therefore you will not exalt them.

He who denounces his friends for plunder, even the eyes of his children will fail.

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

My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. All my members are as a shadow.

Upright men will be astonished at this. The innocent will stir himself up against the godless.

Yet the righteous will hold to his way. He who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.

But as for you all, come back. I will not find a wise man among you.

My days are past. My plans are broken off, as are the thoughts of my heart.

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

If I look for Sheol

(a)

as my house, if I have spread my couch in the darkness,

if I have said to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ and ‘My sister,’

where then is my hope? As for my hope, who will see it?

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

(a)17:13 Sheol is the place of the dead.

(b)17:16 Sheol is the place of the dead.