Job laments that his spirit is broken, his days are extinct, and mockers surround him while his friends offer no understanding. He describes being made a byword among the peoples and asks where his hope lies, as both hope and himself descend together to the gates of Sheol, where they rest in the dust.
Read Job Chapter 17 Summary
Original
Characters in This Chapter
Job
Righteous man whose faith is tested through catastrophic suffering
Eliphaz
First friend who argues suffering results from sin
Bildad
Second friend who appeals to traditional wisdom about punishment
Zophar
Third friend who harshly accuses Job of hidden sin
Elihu
Young man who speaks last, emphasizing God's justice and discipline
Places in This Chapter
Position in Book
PrologueChapters 1-2
Dialogue with FriendsChapters 3-31
Three cycles of speeches between Job and his friends debating the cause of his suffering.
Elihu's SpeechesChapters 32-37
God SpeaksChapters 38-41
EpilogueChapters 42
Bible Bites
Job Has 42 Chapters of Testing
The book of Job contains exactly 42 chapters, ending with God restoring Job's fortunes after his lengthy trials. Job received twice what he had lost and lived 140 more years.
Job 42