1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.

1 ¶ My spirit is consumed, 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 with me,
And mine eye abideth in their provocation.

3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?

3 ¶ Give now a pledge, be surety for me with thyself;
Who is there that will strike hands with me?

4 For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.

4 ¶ For thou hast hid their heart from understanding:
Therefore shalt thou not exalt them.

5 He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

5 ¶ He that denounceth his friends for a prey,
Even the eyes of his children shall fail.

6 He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.

6 ¶ He hath made me also a byword of the people;
And I am become an open abhorring.

7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.

7 ¶ Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow,
And all my members are as a shadow.

8 Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.

8 ¶ Upright men shall be astonied at this,
And the innocent shall stir up himself 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 shall the righteous hold on his way,
And he that hath clean hands shall wax 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 return ye, all of you, and come now:
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 purposes are broken off,
Even the thoughts of my heart.

12 They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.

12 ¶ They change the night into day:
The light, say they, is near unto 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 mine house;
If I have spread my couch in the darkness;

14 I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.

14 ¶ If I have said to corruption, Thou art my father;
To the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister;

15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

15 ¶ Where then is my hope?
And as for my hope, who shall see it?

16 They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.

16 ¶ It shall go down to the bars of Sheol,
When once there is rest in the dust.