1 My gees is verward, my dae is uitgeblus, die graf wag op my.

2 Waarlik, bespottinge is my deel, en op hulle getwis moet my oog rus.

3 Gee tog 'n pand, staan borg vir my by U; wie anders sal vir my borgskap verleen?

4 Want U het hulle hart gesluit vir verstand; daarom sal U hulle nie laat triomfeer nie.

5 Hy wat vriende aanklaag vir 'n buitaandeel -- die oë van sy kinders sal versmag.

6 Maar Hy het my 'n spreekwoord vir die mense gemaak, en ek moet iemand wees wat hulle in die gesig spuug.

7 Daarom het my oog dof geword van verdriet, en al my lede is soos 'n skaduwee.

8 Die opregtes is daaroor ontsteld, en die onskuldige kom teen die goddelose in opstand.

9 Nogtans hou die regverdige vas aan sy weg, en die wat rein van hande is, neem toe in krag.

10 Maar, kom maar altyd weer aan, julle almal! 'n Wyse vind ek onder julle tog nie.

11 My dae is verby, my planne tot niet, die wense van my hart.

12 Van die nag maak hulle 'n dag; lig, sê hulle, is naby vanweë die duisternis.

13 As ek hoop op die doderyk as my huis; in die duisternis my bed uitsprei,

14 die grafkuil toeroep: My vader is jy; die wurms: My moeder en my suster,

15 waar is dan my verwagting? Ja, my verwagting, wie ontdek dit?

16 Na die grendels van die doderyk sal dit neerdaal, wanneer daar tegelykertyd rus is in die stof.

1 My spirit is broken, my days are ended, the last resting-place is ready for me.

2 Truly, those who make sport of me are round about me, and my eyes become dark because of their bitter laughing.

3 Be pleased, now, to be responsible for me to yourself; for there is no other who will put his hand in mine.

4 You have kept their hearts from wisdom: for this cause you will not give them honour.

5 As for him who is false to his friend for a reward, light will be cut off from the eyes of his children.

6 He has made me a word of shame to the peoples; I have become a mark for their sport.

7 My eyes have become dark because of my pain, and all my body is wasted to a shade.

8 The upright are surprised at this, and he who has done no wrong is troubled because of the evil-doers.

9 Still the upright keeps on his way, and he who has clean hands gets new strength.

10 But come back, now, all of you, come; and I will not see a wise man among you.

11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the desires of my heart.

12 They are changing night into day; they say, The light is near the dark.

13 If I am waiting for the underworld as my house, if I have made my bed in the dark;

14 If I say to the earth, You are my father; and to the worm, My mother and my sister;

15 Where then is my hope? and who will see my desire?

16 Will they go down with me into the underworld? Will we go down together into the dust?