Job 19
1 Job replied,
Then Job answered and said,
2 “How long will you go on tormenting me? How long will you go on crushing me with words?
How long will all of you vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
3 Ten times already you have humiliated me. Aren't you ashamed for treating me so badly?
These ten times have all of you reproached me: all of you are not ashamed that all of you make yourselves strange to me.
4 Even if I did sin, that's my problem, and has nothing to do with you.
And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remains with myself.
5 You think you're so much better than me, and you use my degradation against me.
If indeed all of you will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:
6 But you should realize that it's God who has wronged me, he has trapped me in his net.
Know now that God has overthrown me, and has compassed me with his net.
7 Even though I cry for help, I get no answer; even though I shout my objections, I get no justice.
Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.
8 God has walled me in so I can't escape; he has plunged my path into darkness.
He has fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he has set darkness in my paths.
9 He has stripped my honor from me; he has taken away my reputation.
He has stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.
10 He tears me down from all sides until I am finished; he has destroyed my hope like a tree that is uprooted.
He has destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope has he removed like a tree.
11 His anger burns against me; he treats me as one of his enemies.
He has also kindled his wrath against me, and he counts me unto him as one of his enemies.
12 God's troops assemble to attack me. They build ramparts against me. They encircle and besiege my home.
His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and camp round about my tabernacle.
13 He has driven my brothers far away from me; all my former friends are estranged from me.
He has put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily cut off from me.
14 My relatives have abandoned me; my close friends have forgotten me.
My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.
15 My house guests and my maidservants treat me as a stranger—to them I have become a foreigner.
They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an foreigner in their sight.
16 I call my servant, but he doesn't reply. I have to beg him!
I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I implored him with my mouth.
17 I am repulsive to my wife, and I am loathsome to my own brothers.
My breath is strange to my wife, though I implored for the children's sake of mine own body.
18 Even young children despise me; when I stand up they ridicule me.
Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spoke against me.
19 All my closest friends despise me, and those I loved have turned on me.
All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.
20 I've been reduced to skin and bones and I survive by the skin of my teeth.
My bone cleaves to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.
21 Have pity on me, my friends, have pity on me, because God has struck me down!
Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O all of you my friends; for the hand of God has touched me.
22 Why are you persecuting me like God does? Aren't you satisfied with getting your pound of flesh?
Why do all of you persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
23 I wish my words could be written down, recorded in a book,
Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
24 or engraved with an iron pen and molten lead in the rock forever.
That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
25 I know my Redeemer is alive, and that he shall finally take the stand for me on the earth.
For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 Even though my skin is destroyed, in my body I shall see God.
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27 I myself will see him—with my own eyes, and not those of someone else! The thought overcomes me!
Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
28 You say to yourselves, ‘How can we make him suffer so he can see he is the source of his problems?’
But all of you should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?
29 You yourselves should fear being punished by God, for you know anger brings God's punishment that accompanies judgment.”
Be all of you afraid of the sword: for wrath brings the punishments of the sword, that all of you may know there is a judgment.
