King James Version of the Holy Bible

Chapter 17

My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me. ²Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? ³Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me? ⁴For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them. ⁵He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail. ⁶He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret. ⁷Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow. ⁸Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. ⁹The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. ¹⁰But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you. ¹¹My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. ¹²They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness. ¹³If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness. ¹⁴I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister. ¹⁵And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? ¹⁶They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.