Jó 17

Brudt er min Ånd, mine Dage slukt, og Gravene venter mig;

visselig, Spot er min Del, og bittert er, hvad mit Øje må skue.

Stil Sikkerhed for mig hos dig! Hvem anden giver mig Håndslag?

Thi du lukked deres Hjerte for Indsigt, derfor vil du ikke ophøje dem;

den, der forråder Venner til Plyndring, hans Sønners Øjne hentæres.

Til Mundheld har du gjort mig for Folk, jeg er blevet et Jærtegn for dem;

mit Øje er sløvet af Kvide, som Skygger er mine Lemmer til Hobe;

retsindige stivner af Rædsel ved sligt, over vanhellig harmes den skyldfri,

men den retfærdige holder sin Vej, en renhåndet vokser i Kraft.

Men I, mød kun alle frem igen, en Vismand fnder jeg ikke iblandt jer!

Mine Dage stunder mod Døden, brudt er mit Hjertes Ønsker;

Natten gør jeg til Dag, Lyset for mig er Mørke;

vil jeg håbe, får jeg dog Bolig i Døden, jeg reder i Mørket mit Leje,

Graven kalder jeg Fader, Forrådnelsen Moder og Søster.

Hvor er da vel mit Håb, og hvo kan øjne min Lykke?

Mon de vil følge mig ned i Dødsriget, skal sammen vi synke i Støvet?

My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves {are ready} for me. {breath...: or, spirit is spent}

{Are there} not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? {continue: Heb. lodge}

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. {aforetime: or, before them}

Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members {are} as a shadow. {my members: or, my thoughts}

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. {be...: Heb. add strength}

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. {the thoughts: Heb. the possessions}

They change the night into day: the light {is} short because of darkness. {short: Heb. near}

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. {said: Heb. cried, or, called}

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.