Job’s hope in God – Book of Job, chapter 17, The Bible

Job’s hope in God: he expects rest in death.

[1] My spirit shall be wasted, my days shall be shortened, and only the grave remaineth for me. [2] I have not sinned, and my eye abideth in bitterness. [3] Deliver me O Lord, and set me beside thee, and let any man’s hand fight against me. [4] Thou hast set their heart far from understanding, therefore they shall not be exalted. [5] He promiseth a prey to his companions, and the eyes of his children shall fail.

[6] He hath made me as it were a byword of the people, and I am an example before them. [7] My eye is dim through indignation, and my limbs are brought as it were to nothing. [8] The just shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall be raised up against the hypocrite. [9] And the just man shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. [10] Wherefore be you all converted, and come, and I shall not find among you any wise man.

[11] My days have passed away, my thoughts are dissipated, tormenting my heart. [12] They have turned night into day, and after darkness I hope for light again. [13] If I wait hell is my house, and I have made my bed in darkness. [14] If I have said to rottenness: Thou art my father; to worms, my mother and my sister. [15] Where is now then my expectation, and who considereth my patience?

[16] All that I have shall go down into the deepest pit: thinkest thou that there at least I shall have rest?

Commentary

[2] “Not sinned”: That is, I am not guilty of such sins as they charge me with.

[13] “Hell”: Sheol. The region of the dead.

[16] “Deepest pit”: Literally, hell.