^{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 spirit hath been destroyed, My days extinguished -- graves `are' for me.

^{2 Ref} If not -- mockeries `are' with me. And in their provocations mine eye lodgeth.

^{3 Ref} Place, I pray Thee, my pledge with Thee; Who is he that striketh hand with me?

^{4 Ref} For their heart Thou hast hidden From understanding, Therefore Thou dost not exalt them.

^{5 Ref} For a portion he sheweth friendship, And the eyes of his sons are consumed.

^{6 Ref} And he set me up for a proverb of the peoples, And a wonder before them I am.

^{7 Ref} And dim from sorrow is mine eye, And my members as a shadow all of them.

^{8 Ref} Astonished are the upright at this, And the innocent against the profane Stirreth himself up.

^{9 Ref} And the righteous layeth hold `on' his way, And the clean of hands addeth strength, And -- dumb are they all.

^{10 Ref} Return, and come in, I pray you, And I find not among you a wise man.

^{11 Ref} My days have passed by, My devices have been broken off, The possessions of my heart!

^{12 Ref} Night for day they appoint, Light `is' near because of darkness.

^{13 Ref} If I wait -- Sheol `is' my house, In darkness I have spread out my couch.

^{14 Ref} To corruption I have called: -- `Thou `art' my father.' `My mother' and `my sister' -- to the worm.

^{15 Ref} And where `is' now my hope? Yea, my hope, who doth behold it?

^{16 Ref} `To' the parts of Sheol ye go down, If together on the dust we may rest.