1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me. 2 Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? 3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me? 4 For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them. 5 He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail. 6 He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret. 7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow. 8 Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. 9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

10 But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you. 11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. 12 They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness. 13 If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness. 14 I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister. 15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? 16 They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.

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.