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Youngs Literal Translation

Job 17

1 My spirit hath been destroyed, My days extinguished -- graves [are] for me.
2 If not -- mockeries [are] with me. And in their provocations mine eye lodgeth.
3 Place, I pray Thee, my pledge with Thee; Who is he that striketh hand with me?
4 For their heart Thou hast hidden From understanding, Therefore Thou dost not exalt them.
5 For a portion he sheweth friendship, And the eyes of his sons are consumed.
6 And he set me up for a proverb of the peoples, And a wonder before them I am.
7 And dim from sorrow is mine eye, And my members as a shadow all of them.
8 Astonished are the upright at this, And the innocent against the profane Stirreth himself up.
9 And the righteous layeth hold [on] his way, And the clean of hands addeth strength, And -- dumb are they all.
10 Return, and come in, I pray you, And I find not among you a wise man.
11 My days have passed by, My devices have been broken off, The possessions of my heart!
12 Night for day they appoint, Light [is] near because of darkness.
13 If I wait -- Sheol [is] my house, In darkness I have spread out my couch.
14 To corruption I have called: -- `Thou [art] my father.' `My mother' and `my sister' -- to the worm.
15 And where [is] now my hope? Yea, my hope, who doth behold it?
16 [To] the parts of Sheol ye go down, If together on the dust we may rest.

Chapter Summary

Job's spirit is broken as mockers surround him, yet he clings to the hope of vindication despite approaching death.

Book Summary

Job wrestles with the suffering of a righteous man who loses everything yet refuses to curse God. Through dialogues with his friends and God's answer from the whirlwind, the book probes faith, justice, and the limits of human understanding.