Глава 17

1. My breath is corrupt, my dayes are shortened, I am harde at deathes doore.
2. Froward men are with me, and myne eye must continue in the bitternesse of them.
3. O deliuer me, and loke out one to be my suretie in thy sight: what is he that knoweth who wyll promise for me?
4. For thou hast withholden their heartes from vnderstanding, therefore shalt thou not set [them] vp on hie.
5. He that speaketh flatterie to his friend, the eyes of his children shall fayle.
6. He hath made me a byworde of the people, where as afore I was their ioy.
7. Myne eye is dimme for very heauinesse, and all my strength is lyke a shadowe.
8. Vertuous men therefore shall well consider this, and the innocent shal take part against the hypocrite.
9. The righteous also wyll kepe his way, and he that hath cleane handes wyll euer be stronger and stronger.
10. As for al you, turne you and get you hence [I pray you] seeing I can not finde one wyse man among you.
11. My dayes are past, and my counsailes and thoughtes of my heart are vanished away,
12. Chaunging the night into day, and the light approching into darkenesse.
13. Though I tary neuer so much, yet the graue is my house, & I haue made my bed in the darke.
14. I saide to corruption, thou art my father, and to the wormes, you are my mother and my sister.
15. Where is then now my hope? or who hath considered the thing that I loke for?
16. These shall go downe with me into the pit, and lye with me in the dust.