King James New American Standard Bible
  • 1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.
  • 2 Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?
  • 3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?
  • 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.
  • 6 He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.
  • 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.
  • 9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
  • 10 But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.
  • 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.
  • 13 If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.
  • 14 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?
  • 16 They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.
  • 1 “My spirit is broken, my days are extinguished, The grave is ready for me.
  • 2 “Surely mockers are with me, And my eye gazes on their provocation.
  • 3 “Lay down, now, a pledge for me with Yourself; Who is there that will be my guarantor?
  • 4 “For You have kept their heart from understanding, Therefore You will not exalt them.
  • 5 “He who informs against friends for a share of the spoil, The eyes of his children also will languish.
  • 6 “But He has made me a byword of the people, And I am one at whom men spit.
  • 7 “My eye has also grown dim because of grief, And all my members are as a shadow.
  • 8 “The upright will be appalled at this, And the innocent will stir up himself against the godless.
  • 9 “Nevertheless the righteous will hold to his way, And he who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.
  • 10 “But come again all of you now, For I do not find a wise man among you.
  • 11 “My days are past, my plans are torn apart, Even the wishes of my heart.
  • 12 “They make night into day, saying, 'The light is near,' in the presence of darkness.
  • 13 “If I look for Sheol as my home, I make my bed in the darkness;
  • 14 If I call to the pit, 'You are my father'; To the worm, 'my mother and my sister';
  • 15 Where now is my hope? And who regards my hope?
  • 16 “Will it go down with me to Sheol? Shall we together go down into the dust?”
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission.