Job 17:2-1953 kjv — Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? Lay down now, put me in a surety wi…

“Surely there are mockers with me, And mine eye dwelleth upon their provocation. Give now a pledge, be surety for me with thyself; Who is there that will strike hands with me? For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: Therefore shalt thou not exalt them. He that denounceth his friends for a prey, Even the eyes of his children shall fail. But he hath made me a byword of the people; And they spit in my face. Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, And all my members are as a shadow. Upright men shall be astonished at this, And the innocent shall stir up himself against the godless. Yet shall the righteous hold on his way, And he that hath clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger. But as for you all, come on now again; And I shall not find a wise man among you. My days are past, my purposes are broken off, Even the thoughts of my heart. They change the night into day: The light, say they, is near unto the darkness. If I look for Sheol as my house; If I have spread my couch in the darkness; If I have said to corruption, Thou art my father; To the worm, Thou artmy mother, and my sister; Where then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it? It shall go down to the bars of Sheol, When once there is rest in the dust. ”

“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 shall not exalt them. He who denounces his friends for a prey, Even the eyes of his children shall 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 shall be astonished at this. The innocent shall stir up himself against the godless. Yet shall the righteous hold on his way. He who has clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger. But as for you all, come on now again; I shall 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 as my house, if I have spread my couch in the darkness, If I have said to corruption, 'You are my father;' to the worm, 'My mother,' and 'my sister;' where then is my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? Shall it go down with me to the gates of Sheol, or descend together into the dust?"”

“Surely mockery is with me; my eyes must dwell on their hostility. Set my pledge beside you. Who else will put up security for me? Because you have closed their minds to understanding, therefore you will not exalt them. If a man denounces his friends for personal gain, the eyes of his children will fail. He has made me a byword to people, I am the one in whose face they spit. My eyes have grown dim with grief; my whole frame is but a shadow. Upright men are appalled at this; the innocent man is troubled with the godless. But the righteous man holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger. Anticipation of Death“But turn, all of you, and come now! I will not find a wise man among you. My days have passed, my plans are shattered, even the desires of my heart. These men change night into day; they say,‘The light is near in the face of darkness.’ If I hope for the grave to be my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness, If I cry to corruption,‘You are my father,’ and to the worm,‘My mother,’ or‘My sister,’ where then is my hope? And my hope, who sees it? Will it go down to the barred gates of death? Will we descend together into the dust?””

“I have not sinned, and my eye abideth in bitterness. Deliver me, O Lord, and set me beside thee, and let any man's hand fight against me. Thou hast set their heart far from understanding, therefore they shall not be exalted. He promiseth a prey to his companions, and the eyes of his children shall fail. He hath made me as it were a byword of the people, and I am an example before them. My eye is dim through indignation, and my limbs are brought as it were to nothing. The just shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall be raised up against the hypocrite. And the just man shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. Wherefore be you all converted, and come, and I shall not find among you any wise man. My days have passed away, my thoughts are dissipated, tormenting my heart. They have turned night into day, and after darkness I hope for light again. If I wait hell is my house, and I have made my bed in darkness. I have said to rottenness: Thou art my father; to worms, my mother and my sister. Where is now then my expectation, and who considereth my patience? All that I have shall go down into the deepest pit: thinkest thou that there at least I shall have rest? ”

“Truly, those who make sport of me are round about me, and my eyes become dark because of their bitter laughing. Be pleased, now, to be responsible for me to yourself; for there is no other who will put his hand in mine. You have kept their hearts from wisdom: for this cause you will not give them honour. As for him who is false to his friend for a reward, light will be cut off from the eyes of his children. He has made me a word of shame to the peoples; I have become a mark for their sport. My eyes have become dark because of my pain, and all my body is wasted to a shade. The upright are surprised at this, and he who has done no wrong is troubled because of the evil-doers. Still the upright keeps on his way, and he who has clean hands gets new strength. But come back, now, all of you, come; and I will not see a wise man among you. My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the desires of my heart. They are changing night into day; they say, The light is near the dark. If I am waiting for the underworld as my house, if I have made my bed in the dark; If I say to the earth, You are my father; and to the worm, My mother and my sister; Where then is my hope? and who will see my desire? Will they go down with me into the underworld? Will we go down together into the dust?”

“Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me? For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them. He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail. He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret. Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow. Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you. My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness. If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness. I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister. And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust. ”