Bible in Basic English
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?
— Job 17:3-1964, Bible in Basic English
“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. ”
My spirit is broken, my days are ended, the last resting-place is ready for me.
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?