King James Version KJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.
1
My spirit is broken, my days are extinct, the grave is ready for me.
2 Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?
2
Surely there are mockers about me, and my eye dwells on their provocation.
3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?
3
"Lay down a pledge for me with thyself; who is there that will give surety for me?
4 For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.
4
Since thou hast closed their minds to understanding, therefore thou wilt not let them triumph.
5 He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
5
He who informs against his friends to get a share of their property, the eyes of his children will fail.
6 He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.
6
"He has made me a byword of the peoples, and I am one before whom men spit.
7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.
7
My eye has grown dim from grief, and all my members are like a shadow.
8 Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.
8
Upright men are appalled at this, and the innocent stirs himself up against the godless.
9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
9
Yet the righteous holds to his way, and he that has clean hands grows stronger and stronger.
10 But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.
10
But you, come on again, all of you, and I shall not find a wise man among you.
11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
11
My days are past, my plans are broken off, the desires of my heart.
12 They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
12
They make night into day; 'The light,' they say, 'is near to the darkness.'
13 If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.
13
If I look for Sheol as my house, if I spread my couch in darkness,
14 I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.
14
if I say to the pit, 'You are my father,' and to the worm, 'My mother,' or 'My sister,'
15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
15
where then is my hope? Who will see my hope?
16 They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.
16
Will it go down to the bars of Sheol? Shall we descend together into the dust?"
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.