BibleInTonguesWEB
Job 17
This short chapter is Job sinking toward the grave in real time: his spirit is consumed, the grave is ready, and mockers surround him. He dares God to put up a pledge on his behalf, since no human will strike hands with him. The reading turns bleak and intimate as Job addresses death's household directly. Watch how he claims kinship with decay itself, calling corruption "father" and the worm "mother" and "sister."
- 1
“My spirit is consumed. My days are extinct and the grave is ready for me.
- 2
Surely there are mockers with me. My eye dwells on their provocation.
- 3
“Now give a pledge. Be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?
- 4
For you have hidden their heart from understanding, therefore you will not exalt them.
- 5
He who denounces his friends for plunder, even the eyes of his children will fail.
- 6
“But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face.
- 7
My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. All my members are as a shadow.
- 8
Upright men will be astonished at this. The innocent will stir himself up against the godless.
- 9
Yet the righteous will hold to his way. He who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.
- 10
But as for you all, come back. I will not find a wise man among you.
- 11
My days are past. My plans are broken off, as are the thoughts of my heart.
- 12
They change the night into day, saying ‘The light is near’ in the presence of darkness.
- 13
If I look for Sheol as my house, if I have spread my couch in the darkness,
- 14
if I have said to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ and ‘My sister,’
- 15
where then is my hope? As for my hope, who will see it?
- 16
Shall it go down with me to the gates of Sheol, or descend together into the dust?”
- 1
“Meu espírito está consumido. Meus dias estão extintos e a sepultura está pronta para mim.
- 2
Certamente há zombadores comigo. Meus olhos se fixam na provocação deles.
- 3
“Agora, dê um penhor. Seja o meu fiador junto a você mesmo. Quem há que apertará as mãos comigo?
- 4
Pois você ocultou o coração deles do entendimento, portanto, você não os exaltará.
- 5
Quem denuncia seus amigos por despojo, até os olhos de seus filhos desfalecerão.
- 6
“Mas ele me tornou um provérbio entre o povo. Eles cospem no meu rosto.
- 7
Meu olho também escureceu por causa da tristeza. Todos os meus membros são como uma sombra.
- 8
Os homens retos ficarão espantados com isso. O inocente se levantará contra o ímpio.
- 9
Contudo, o justo se manterá no seu caminho. Aquele que tem mãos limpas ficará cada vez mais forte.
- 10
Mas, quanto a todos vocês, voltem. Não encontrarei um homem sábio entre vocês.
- 11
Meus dias passaram. Meus planos estão desfeitos, assim como os pensamentos do meu coração.
- 12
Eles transformam a noite em dia, dizendo: ‘A luz está perto’, na presença das trevas.
- 13
Se eu buscar o Seol como minha casa, se eu estendi minha cama nas trevas,
- 14
se eu disse à corrupção: ‘Você é meu pai’, e ao verme: ‘Minha mãe’ e ‘Minha irmã’,
- 15
onde então está a minha esperança? Quanto à minha esperança, quem a verá?
- 16
Descerá ela comigo até as portas do Seol, ou desceremos juntos ao pó?”
Hope spread out in the dark
The chapter pivots on a question repeated at verses 15 and 16: where is hope, and will it go down to Sheol with him? Having just imagined making his bed in darkness, Job cannot find a place left for hope to stand.
Notice the bitter aside at verse 12, where the friends "change the night into day," promising light when only darkness is near. Job's complaint is not only suffering but false comfort that renames the dark.
Context layers
Keep these closed by default and open them only when you want more context.
Share a small range via:
/en/web/job/17/16-18
Or use the Passage link builder.