Young's Literal Translation YLT
New International Version NIV
1 My spirit hath been destroyed, My days extinguished -- graves [are] for me.
1
My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave awaits me.
2 If not -- mockeries [are] with me. And in their provocations mine eye lodgeth.
2
Surely mockers surround me; my eyes must dwell on their hostility.
3 Place, I pray Thee, my pledge with Thee; Who is he that striketh hand with me?
3
“Give me, O God, the pledge you demand. Who else will put up security for me?
4 For their heart Thou hast hidden From understanding, Therefore Thou dost not exalt them.
4
You have closed their minds to understanding; therefore you will not let them triumph.
5 For a portion he sheweth friendship, And the eyes of his sons are consumed.
5
If anyone denounces their friends for reward, the eyes of their children will fail.
6 And he set me up for a proverb of the peoples, And a wonder before them I am.
6
“God has made me a byword to everyone, a man in whose face people spit.
7 And dim from sorrow is mine eye, And my members as a shadow all of them.
7
My eyes have grown dim with grief; my whole frame is but a shadow.
8 Astonished are the upright at this, And the innocent against the profane Stirreth himself up.
8
The upright are appalled at this; the innocent are aroused against the ungodly.
9 And the righteous layeth hold [on] his way, And the clean of hands addeth strength, And -- dumb are they all.
9
Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to their ways, and those with clean hands will grow stronger.
10 Return, and come in, I pray you, And I find not among you a wise man.
10
“But come on, all of you, try again! I will not find a wise man among you.
11 My days have passed by, My devices have been broken off, The possessions of my heart!
11
My days have passed, my plans are shattered. Yet the desires of my heart
12 Night for day they appoint, Light [is] near because of darkness.
12
turn night into day; in the face of the darkness light is near.
13 If I wait -- Sheol [is] my house, In darkness I have spread out my couch.
13
If the only home I hope for is the grave, if I spread out my bed in the realm of darkness,
14 To corruption I have called: -- `Thou [art] my father.' `My mother' and `my sister' -- to the worm.
14
if I say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother’ or ‘My sister,’
15 And where [is] now my hope? Yea, my hope, who doth behold it?
15
where then is my hope— who can see any hope for me?
16 [To] the parts of Sheol ye go down, If together on the dust we may rest.
16
Will it go down to the gates of death? Will we descend together into the dust?”
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.