Job 17

1 “My spirit [breath of life, the wind, or a person’s mind and emotions] is broken [consumed, crushed, or corrupted]; my days [a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time] are extinguished [put out, ended, or cut off]; the grave [a place where the dead are buried, often a tomb or burial site] awaits me [is ready, waiting for me, or prepared for my arrival]. word study 2 Surely [without a doubt, certainly] mockers [those who scorn, deride] surround me, and my eyes must gaze at [dwell upon, continue in] their rebellion [provocation, bitter laughter]. word study 3 Give me, I pray [please, I ask of you], the pledge [a guarantee, security] You demand [require, expect]. Who [what person, which one] else will be my guarantor [one who will vouch for me, stand in my place]? word study 4 You have [completely, totally] closed their minds [hearts, inner beings] to understanding [insight, discernment]; therefore [as a result, consequently] You will not [under any circumstances] exalt [lift up, honor] them [in Your sight, to a position of greatness]. word study 5 If a man [betraying his own] denounces [speaks flattery to, tells lies about] his friends [companions, neighbors] for a price [a portion, a reward], the eyes [sources of vision, understanding] of his children [sons, descendants] will fail [come to an end, be consumed]. word study 6 He has made me a byword [byword of ridicule, proverb of shame] among the people [nations, a multitude], a man in whose face [presence, before them] they [in contempt, to insult] spit [as a sign of utter disdain, to show contempt]. word study 7 My eyes [dimmed by sorrow, worn out from crying] have grown dim [to rebuke, become weak] with grief [vexation, deep emotional pain], and my whole body [all my members, limbs] is but a [faint, mere] shadow [dark area, shade]. word study 8 The upright [just, morally straight] are appalled [astonished, desolate] at this [this situation, event], and the innocent [guiltless, blameless] are stirred [roused, awakened] against the godless [profane, hypocritical, ungodly]. word study 9 Yet a righteous one [having God’s nature, just] holds to his way [path of life, manner of action], and the one with clean [pure, morally upright] hands grows stronger [in courage, with increasing power]. word study 10 But [however, in contrast] come back [return, turn back] and try again [come on now, repeat again], all [every one, everything] of you. For I will not [certainly not, no] find [discover, attain] a wise [intelligent, skilled, prudent] man [person, individual] among [in the midst of] you. word study 11 My days [time to live, life span] have passed [come to an end, gone by]; my plans [purposes, desires] are broken off [cut off, torn away]— even the desires [thoughts, possessions] of my heart [innermost being, mind and emotions]. word study 12 They have turned [changed, appointed] night [a time of darkness] into day [a period of light], making [saying, appointing] light [spiritual illumination] seem near [close, approaching] in the face [presence, before] of darkness [a state of adversity]. word study 13 If I look for [the underworld, place of no return] Sheol as my [dwelling place, family home] home, if I spread out my [resting place, couch] bed in [physical and spiritual] darkness, word study 14 and say to corruption [decay, rottenness, the pit], ‘You are my father [the one I will inherit from],’ and to the worm [maggot], ‘My mother [nourisher, caregiver],’ or ‘My sister [close relative, companion],’ word study 15 where [in what place, at what point] then [at this time, now] is my hope [expectation, cord of attachment]? Who [what person, which one] can see [observe, behold] any hope [desire, thing hoped for] for me [on my behalf, in my interest]? word study 16 Will it [hope, expectation] go down [to the lowest point, descend] to the gates [bars, entrance] of Sheol [the underworld, place of no return]? Will we [together, united] go down [into the depths, fall] together into the dust [dry earth, mortal remains] [where our rest together is, in a state of quietness]?” word study