Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
1 My spirit is broken, my days extinguished, the grave, mine.
1
My spirit is broken, my days are extinct, the grave is ready for me.
2 Surely mockers are with me, and my eye looks on their rebellion.
2
Surely there are mockers around me, and my eye dwells on their provocation.
3 Take my guarantee. Who else is willing to make an agreement?
3
"Lay down a pledge for me with yourself; who is there that will give surety for me?
4 You've closed their mind to insight; therefore, you won't be exalted.
4
Since you have closed their minds to understanding, therefore you will not let them triumph.
5 He denounces his friends for gain, and his children's eyes fail.
5
Those who denounce friends for reward— the eyes of their children will fail.
6 He makes me a popular proverb; I'm like spit in people's faces.
6
"He has made me a byword of the peoples, and I am one before whom people spit.
7 My eye is weak from grief; my limbs like a shadow—all of them.
7
My eye has grown dim from grief, and all my members are like a shadow.
8 Those who do the right thing are amazed at this; the guiltless become troubled about the godless.
8
The upright are appalled at this, and the innocent stir themselves up against the godless.
9 The innocent clings to his way; the one whose hands are clean grows stronger.
9
Yet the righteous hold to their way, and they that have clean hands grow stronger and stronger.
10 But you can bring all of them again, and I won't find a wise one among you.
10
But you, come back now, all of you, and I shall not find a sensible person among you.
11 My days have passed; my goals are destroyed, my heart's desires.
11
My days are past, my plans are broken off, the desires of my heart.
12 They turn night into day; light is near because of the darkness.
12
They make night into day; "The light,' they say, "is near to the darkness.'
13 If I hope for the underworld as my dwelling, lay out my bed in darkness,
13
If I look for Sheol as my house, if I spread my couch in darkness,
14 I've called corruption "my father," the worm, "my mother and sister."
14
if I say to the Pit, "You are my father,' and to the worm, "My mother,' or "My sister,'
15 Where then is my hope? My hope—who can see it?
15
where then is my hope? Who will see my hope?
16 Will they go down with me to the underworld; will we descend together to the dust?
16
Will it go down to the bars of Sheol? Shall we descend together into the dust?"
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
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.