| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave awaits me. | 1My spirit is broken, my days have faded out, the grave awaits me. |
| 2Surely mockers surround me; my eyes must dwell on their hostility. | 2Surely mockery is with me; my eyes must dwell on their hostility. |
| 3"Give me, O God, the pledge you demand. Who else will put up security for me? | 3Make then my pledge with you. Who else will put up security for me? |
| 4You have closed their minds to understanding; therefore you will not let them triumph. | 4Because you have closed their minds to understanding, therefore you will not exalt them. |
| 5If anyone denounces their friends for reward, the eyes of their children will fail. | 5If a man denounces his friends for personal gain, the eyes of his children will fail. |
| 6"God has made me a byword to everyone, a man in whose face people spit. | 6He has made me a byword to people, I am the one in whose face they spit. |
| 7My eyes have grown dim with grief; my whole frame is but a shadow. | 7My eyes have grown dim with grief; my whole frame is but a shadow. |
| 8The upright are appalled at this; the innocent are aroused against the ungodly. | 8Upright men are appalled at this; the innocent man is troubled with the godless. |
| 9Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to their ways, and those with clean hands will grow stronger. | 9But the righteous man holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger. |
| 10"But come on, all of you, try again! I will not find a wise man among you. | 10"But turn, all of you, and come now! I will not find a wise man among you. |
| 11My days have passed, my plans are shattered. Yet the desires of my heart | 11My days have passed, my plans are shattered, even the desires of my heart. |
| 12turn night into day; in the face of the darkness light is near. | 12These men change night into day; they say, 'The light is near in the face of darkness.' |
| 13If the only home I hope for is the grave, if I spread out my bed in the realm of darkness, | 13If I hope for the grave to be my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness, |
| 14if I say to corruption, 'You are my father,' and to the worm, 'My mother' or 'My sister,' | 14If I cry to corruption, 'You are my father,' and to the worm, 'My Mother,' or 'My sister,' |
| 15where then is my hope-- who can see any hope for me? | 15where then is my hope? And my hope, who sees it? |
| 16Will it go down to the gates of death? Will we descend together into the dust?" | 16Will it go down to the barred gates of death? Will we descend together into the dust?" |
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