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