^{1 Ref} My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct, The grave is `ready' for me.

^{2 Ref} Surely there are mockers with me, And mine eye dwelleth upon their provocation.

^{3 Ref} Give now a pledge, be surety for me with thyself; Who is there that will strike hands with me?

^{4 Ref} For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: Therefore shalt thou not exalt `them'.

^{5 Ref} He that denounceth his friends for a prey, Even the eyes of his children shall fail.

^{6 Ref} But he hath made me a byword of the people; And they spit in my face.

^{7 Ref} Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, And all my members are as a shadow.

^{8 Ref} Upright men shall be astonished at this, And the innocent shall stir up himself against the godless.

^{9 Ref} Yet shall the righteous hold on his way, And he that hath clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger.

^{10 Ref} But as for you all, come on now again; And I shall not find a wise man among you.

^{11 Ref} My days are past, my purposes are broken off, Even the thoughts of my heart.

^{12 Ref} They change the night into day: The light, `say they', is near unto the darkness.

^{13 Ref} If I look for Sheol as my house; If I have spread my couch in the darkness;

^{14 Ref} If I have said to corruption, Thou art my father; To the worm, `Thou art' my mother, and my sister;

^{15 Ref} Where then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it?

^{16 Ref} It shall go down to the bars of Sheol, When once there is rest in the dust.

^{1 Ref} My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.

^{2 Ref} Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?

^{3 Ref} Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?

^{4 Ref} For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.

^{5 Ref} He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

^{6 Ref} He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.

^{7 Ref} Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.

^{8 Ref} Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.

^{9 Ref} The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

^{10 Ref} But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.

^{11 Ref} My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.

^{12 Ref} They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.

^{13 Ref} If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.

^{14 Ref} I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.

^{15 Ref} And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

^{16 Ref} They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.