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17 My spirit is broken.
The days of my life are almost gone.
    The grave is waiting for me.
Those who laugh at me surround me.
    I watch them insult me.

“God, make me a promise.
    No one else will make a promise for me.
You have closed the minds of my friends so they do not understand.
    So you will not let them win over me.
A man might speak against his friends for money.
    But if he does, the eyes of his children go blind.

“God has caused people to use my name as a curse word.
    People spit in my face.
My sight has grown weak because of my sadness.
    My body is so thin it’s like a shadow.
Honest people are upset about this.
    Innocent people are upset with people who do wrong.
But people who do right will continue to do right.
    And those whose hands are not dirty with sin will grow stronger.

10 “But, all of you, come and try again!
    I do not find a wise man among you!
11 My days are gone, and my plans have been destroyed.
    The desires of my heart are also destroyed.
12 These men think night is day.
    When it is dark, they say, ‘Light is near.’
13 It might be that the only home I hope for is where the dead are.
    I might spread out my bed in darkness.
14 I might say to the grave, ‘You are my father.’
    And I might say to the worm, ‘You are my mother’ or ‘You are my sister.’
15 If these things are true, I have no hope.
    No one can see any hope for me.
16 Hope will go down to the gates of death.
    We will go down together into the dust.”

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)