New Revised Standard NRS
New International Version NIV
1 My spirit is broken, my days are extinct, the grave is ready for me.
1
My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave awaits me.
2 Surely there are mockers around me, and my eye dwells on their provocation.
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Surely mockers surround me; my eyes must dwell on their hostility.
3 "Lay down a pledge for me with yourself; who is there that will give surety for me?
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“Give me, O God, the pledge you demand. Who else will put up security for me?
4 Since you have closed their minds to understanding, therefore you will not let them triumph.
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You have closed their minds to understanding; therefore you will not let them triumph.
5 Those who denounce friends for reward— the eyes of their children will fail.
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If anyone denounces their friends for reward, the eyes of their children will fail.
6 "He has made me a byword of the peoples, and I am one before whom people spit.
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“God has made me a byword to everyone, a man in whose face people spit.
7 My eye has grown dim from grief, and all my members are like a shadow.
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My eyes have grown dim with grief; my whole frame is but a shadow.
8 The upright are appalled at this, and the innocent stir themselves up against the godless.
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The upright are appalled at this; the innocent are aroused against the ungodly.
9 Yet the righteous hold to their way, and they that have clean hands grow stronger and stronger.
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Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to their ways, and those with clean hands will grow stronger.
10 But you, come back now, all of you, and I shall not find a sensible person among you.
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“But come on, all of you, try again! I will not find a wise man among you.
11 My days are past, my plans are broken off, the desires of my heart.
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My days have passed, my plans are shattered. Yet the desires of my heart
12 They make night into day; "The light,' they say, "is near to the darkness.'
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turn night into day; in the face of the darkness light is near.
13 If I look for Sheol as my house, if I spread my couch in darkness,
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If the only home I hope for is the grave, if I spread out my bed in the realm of darkness,
14 if I say to the Pit, "You are my father,' and to the worm, "My mother,' or "My sister,'
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if I say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother’ or ‘My sister,’
15 where then is my hope? Who will see my hope?
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where then is my hope— who can see any hope for me?
16 Will it go down to the bars of Sheol? Shall we descend together into the dust?"
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Will it go down to the gates of death? Will we descend together into the dust?”
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.