Job's Hope in the Grave
Job 17
Job, in a brief and mournful passage, feels himself near death and mocked among the nations, his eyes dimmed with grief and his strength spent. He declares that his only remaining hope is Hades itself, asking where any true hope for good can still be found.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonI AM dying with a tortured spirit, and wishing for a burial, but do not obtain it.
BrentonI perish, carried away by the wind, and I seek for burial, and obtain it not.
GreekὈλέκομαι πνεύματι φερόμενος, δέομαι δὲ ταφῆς, καὶ οὐ τυγχάνω.
KJV—
JPS—
2
ThomsonI am supplicating in distress, yet what have I done? Strangers have stolen my substance—who is the man?
BrentonWeary I intreat; and what have I done? and strangers have stolen my goods.
GreekΛίσσομαι κάμνων, καὶ τί ποιήσας;
KJV—
JPS—
3
ThomsonLet him be brought to trial with me.
BrentonWho is this? let him join hands with me.
Greekἔκλεψαν δέ μου τὰ ὑπάρχοντα ἀλλότριοι. Τίς ἐστιν οὕτος; τῇ χειρί μου συνδεθήτω.
KJVLay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?
JPSGive now a pledge, be surety for me with Thyself; Who else is there that will strike hands with me?
4
ThomsonBecause Thou hast hid their heart from understanding, Thou shouldst not for this cause exalt them.
BrentonFor thou hast hid their heart from wisdom; therefore thou shalt not exalt them.
GreekὍτι καρδίαν αὐτῶν ἔκρυψας ἀπὸ φρονήσεως, διὰ τοῦτο οὐ μὴ ὑψώσῃς αὐτούς.
KJVFor thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.
JPSFor Thou hast hid their heart from understanding; Therefore shalt Thou not exalt them.
5
Thomson—
BrentonHe shall promise mischief to his companions: but their eyes have failed for their children.
GreekΤῇ μερίδι ἀναγγελεῖ κακίας· ὀφθαλμοὶ δὲ ἐφʼ υἱοῖς ἐτάκησαν.
KJV—
JPS—
6
ThomsonBut Thou hast made me a byword among nations, and I am become a subject of laughter for them.
BrentonBut thou hast made me a byword among the nations, and I am become a scorn to them.
GreekἜθου δέ με θρύλλημα ἐν ἔθνεσι, γέλως δὲ αὐτοῖς ἀπέβην.
KJV—
JPSHe hath made me also a byword of the people; And I am become one in whose face they spit.
7
ThomsonFor mine eyes are dim with sorrow, and I am closely besieged by all.
BrentonFor my eyes are dimmed through pain; I have been grievously beset by all.
GreekΠεπώρωνται γὰρ ἀπὸ ὀργῆς οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου, πεπολιόρκημαι μεγάλως ὑπὸ πάντων.
KJV—
JPSMine eye also is dimmed by reason of vexation, And all my members are as a shadow.
8
Thomson—
BrentonWonder has seized true men upon this; and let the just rise up against the transgressor.
GreekΘαῦμα ἔσχεν ἀληθινοὺς ἐπὶ τούτῳ, δίκαιος δὲ ἐπὶ παρανόμῳ ἐπανασταίη.
KJVUpright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.
JPSUpright men are astonished at this, And the innocent stirreth up himself against the godless.
9
ThomsonNow ’the righteous should prevail over the wicked’: and ’he who is faithful should hold on his way’: and ’he who hath clean hands should take courage.’
BrentonBut let the faithful hold on his own way, and let him that is pure of hands take courage.
GreekΣχοίη δὲ πιστὸς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ὁδὸν, καθαρὸς δὲ χεῖρας ἀναλάβοι θάρσος.
KJVThe righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
JPS—
10
ThomsonOn these maxims you all rely. But come now; for I do not find truth among you:
BrentonHowbeit, do ye all strengthen yourselves and come now, for I do not find truth in you.
GreekΟὐ μὴν δὲ ἀλλὰ πάντες ἐρείδετε καὶ δεῦτε δὴ, οὐ γὰρ εὑρίσκω ἐν ὑμῖν ἀληθές.
KJVBut as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.
JPSBut as for you all, do ye return, and come now; And I shall not find a wise man among you.
11
Thomsonmy days have passed in groans, and my very heart-strings are broken.
BrentonMy days have passed in groaning, and my heart-strings are broken.
GreekΑἱ ἡμέραι μου παρῆλθον ἐν βρόμῳ, ἐῤῥάγη δὲ τὰ ἄρθρα τῆς καρδίας μου.
KJVMy days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
JPSMy days are past, my purposes are broken off, Even the thoughts of my heart.
12
ThomsonI have put night for day. Is light near on account of darkness?
BrentonI have turned the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
GreekΝύκτα εἰς ἡμέραν ἔθηκα, φῶς ἐγγὺς ἀπὸ προσώπου σκότους.
KJVThey change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
JPSThey change the night into day; The light is short because of darkness.
13
ThomsonFor though I have waited patiently, the mansion of the dead is to be my house, and my bed is made in darkness.
BrentonFor if I remain, Hades is my habitation: and my bed has been made in darkness.
GreekἘὰν γὰρ ὑπομείνω, ᾅδης μου ὁ οἶκος, ἐν δὲ γνοφῳ ἔστρωταί μου ἡ στρωμνή.
KJVIf I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.
JPS—
14
ThomsonI have called on death to be my father—and on corruption to be my sister and mother.
BrentonI have called upon death to be my father, and corruption to be my mother and sister.
GreekΘάνατον ἐπεκαλεσάμην πατέρα μου εἶναι, μητέρα δέ μου καὶ ἀδελφὴν σαπρίαν.
KJVI have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.
JPSIf I have said to corruption: ‘Thou art my father’, To the worm: ‘Thou art my mother, and my sister’;
15
ThomsonWhere then have I any ground of hope? Or shall I see those good things of mine?
BrentonWhere then is yet my hope? or where shall I see my good?
GreekΠοῦ οὖν μου ἔτι ἐστὶν ἡ ἐλπὶς, ἢ τὰ ἀγαθά μου ὄψομαι;
KJVAnd where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
JPSWhere then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it?
16
ThomsonShall they go down with me to the mansion of the dead? Or shall we go together beneath the mound?
BrentonWill they go down with me to Hades, or shall we go down together to the tomb?
GreekἪ μετʼ ἐμοῦ εἰς ᾅδην καταβήσονται; ἢ ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐπὶ χώματος καταβησόμεθα;
KJVThey shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.
JPSThey shall go down to the bars of the nether-world, When we are at rest together in the dust.