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17 My spirit is broken.
My days are snuffed out.
The tomb is waiting for me.
Surely mockery closes in on me.
My eyes must live with my enemies’ bitter contempt.

Please pay for me the deposit that you require from me.
Indeed, who else could guarantee this payment for me?

You have hidden understanding from their hearts.
Therefore, you will not let them win.
If someone denounces friends for a payoff,
his children’s eyes will fail.

He has made me a laughingstock among the people.
They spit in my face.
My vision is blurry from grief.
I am just a shadow of myself.
The upright are appalled at this,
and the innocent are aroused against the godless.
In spite of it all, the righteous hold tight to their ways,
and everyone with clean hands grows stronger.

10 All right then—all of you, please come and try again,
but I will not find a wise man among you.
11 My days have passed.
All the things I planned to do are ripped apart,
including the deepest desires of my heart.

12 They turn night into day.
In the face of darkness, they claim light is near.

13 If I wait hopefully for the grave to become my house,
if I spread out my bed in the darkness,
14 if I cry out to the pit, “You are my father,”
and to the worm, “My mother” or “My sister,”
15 where then is my hope?
Who can find any hope for me?
16 Will it go down with me to the barred gates of the grave?
Will we rest in the dust together?

17 My spirit(A) is broken,
    my days are cut short,(B)
    the grave awaits me.(C)
Surely mockers(D) surround me;(E)
    my eyes must dwell on their hostility.

“Give me, O God, the pledge you demand.(F)
    Who else will put up security(G) for me?(H)
You have closed their minds to understanding;(I)
    therefore you will not let them triumph.
If anyone denounces their friends for reward,(J)
    the eyes of their children will fail.(K)

“God has made me a byword(L) to everyone,(M)
    a man in whose face people spit.(N)
My eyes have grown dim with grief;(O)
    my whole frame is but a shadow.(P)
The upright are appalled at this;
    the innocent are aroused(Q) against the ungodly.
Nevertheless, the righteous(R) will hold to their ways,
    and those with clean hands(S) will grow stronger.(T)

10 “But come on, all of you, try again!
    I will not find a wise man among you.(U)
11 My days have passed,(V) my plans are shattered.
    Yet the desires of my heart(W)
12 turn night into day;(X)
    in the face of the darkness light is near.(Y)
13 If the only home I hope for is the grave,(Z)
    if I spread out my bed(AA) in the realm of darkness,(AB)
14 if I say to corruption,(AC) ‘You are my father,’
    and to the worm,(AD) ‘My mother’ or ‘My sister,’
15 where then is my hope—(AE)
    who can see any hope for me?(AF)
16 Will it go down to the gates of death?(AG)
    Will we descend together into the dust?”(AH)