Read the Bible

¹ My hopes have died,
my time is up,
    and the grave is ready.
² All I can see are angry crowds,
    making fun of me.
³ If you, Lord, don't help,
who will pay the price
    for my release?
⁴ My friends won't really listen,
    all because of you,
and so you must be the one
    to prove them wrong.
⁵ They have condemned me,
just to benefit themselves;
    now blind their children.

⁶ You, God, are the reason
    I am insulted and spit on.
⁷ I am almost blind with grief;
    my body is a mere shadow.

⁸ People who are truly good
    would feel so alarmed,
that they would become angry
    at my worthless friends.
⁹ They would do the right thing
and because they did,
    they would grow stronger.^[a]
10 But none of my friends
    show any sense.

¹¹ My life is drawing to an end;
    hope has disappeared.
¹² But all my friends can do
    is offer empty hopes.^[b]
13 I could tell the world below
    to prepare me a bed.
¹⁴ Then I could greet the grave
    as my father
and say to the worms,
    "Hello, mother and sisters!"

¹⁵ But what kind of hope is that?
¹⁶ Will it keep me company
    in the world of the dead?