1My spirit is broken; the days of my life are almost gone. The grave is waiting for me.
2Those who laugh at me surround me; I watch them insult me.
3"God, make me a promise. No one will make a pledge for me.
4You have closed their minds to understanding. Do not let them win over me.
5A person might speak against his friends for money, but if he does, the eyes of his children go blind.
6"God has made my name a curse word; people spit in my face.
7My sight has grown weak because of my sadness, and my body is as thin as a shadow.
8Honest people are upset about this; innocent people are upset with those who do wrong.
9But those 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 person among you.
11My days are gone, and my plans have been destroyed, along with the desires of my heart.
12These men think night is day; when it is dark, they say, 'Light is near.'
13If the only home I hope for is the grave, if I spread out my bed in darkness,
14if I say to the grave, 'You are my father,' and to the worm, 'You are my mother' or 'You are my sister,'
15where, then, is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?
16Will hope go down to the gates of death? Will we go down together into the dust?"