Job 19

1 Then Job answered and said,

Then Job answered,

2 How long will you vex my soul, and destroy me with words? only know that the Lord has dealt with me thus.

“How long will you torment me, and crush me with words?

3 You speak against me; you do not feel for me, but bear hard upon me.

You have reproached me ten times. You aren’t ashamed that you attack me.

4 Yes verily, I have erred in truth, (but the error abides with myself) in having spoken words which it was not right [to speak]; and my words err, and are unreasonable.

If it is true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.

5 But alas! for you magnify yourselves against me, and insult me with reproach.

If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach,

6 Know then that it is the Lord that has troubled [me], and has raised his bulwark against me.

know now that God has subverted me, and has surrounded me with his net.

7 Behold, I laugh at reproach; I will not speak: [or] I will cry out, but [there is] nowhere judgment.

“Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard. I cry for help, but there is no justice.

8 I am fenced round about, and can by no means escape: he has set darkness before my face.

He has walled up my way so that I can’t pass, and has set darkness in my paths.

9 And he has stripped me of my glory, and has taken the crown from my head.

He has stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.

10 He has torn me around about, and I am gone: and he has cut off my hope like a tree.

He has broken me down on every side, and I am gone. He has plucked my hope up like a tree.

11 And he has dreadfully handled me in anger, and has counted me for an enemy.

He has also kindled his wrath against me. He counts me among his adversaries.

12 His troops also came upon me with one accord, liars in wait compassed my ways.

His troops come on together, build a siege ramp against me, and encamp around my tent.

13 My brethren have stood aloof from me; they have recognized strangers [rather] than me: and my friends have become pitiless.

“He has put my brothers far from me. My acquaintances are wholly estranged from me.

14 My nearest of kin have not acknowledged me, and they that knew my name, have forgotten me.

My relatives have gone away. My familiar friends have forgotten me.

15 [As for] my household, and my maidservants, I was a stranger before them.

Those who dwell in my house and my maids consider me a stranger. I am an alien in their sight.

16 I called my servant, and he listened not; and my mouth entreated [him].

I call to my servant, and he gives me no answer. I beg him with my mouth.

17 And I implored my wife, and earnestly entreated the sons of my concubines.

My breath is offensive to my wife. I am loathsome to the children of my own mother.

18 But they rejected me for ever; whenever I rise up, they speak against me.

Even young children despise me. If I arise, they speak against me.

19 They that saw me abhorred me: the very persons whom I had loved, rose up against me.

All my familiar friends abhor me. They whom I loved have turned against me.

20 My flesh is corrupt under my skin, and my bones are held in [my] teeth.

My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh. I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.

21 Pity me, pity me, O friends; for it is the hand of the Lord that has touched me.

“Have pity on me. Have pity on me, you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me.

22 Therefore do you persecute me as also the Lord [does], and are not satisfied with my flesh?

Why do you persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?

23 For oh that my words were written, and that they were recorded in a book forever,

“Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!

24 with an iron pen and lead, or graven in the rocks!

That with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!

25 For I know that he is eternal who is about to deliver me,

But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth.

26 [and] to raise up upon the earth my skin that endures these [sufferings]: for these things have been accomplished to me of the Lord;

After my skin is destroyed, then I will see God in my flesh,

27 which I am conscious of in myself, which mine eye has seen, and not another, but all have been fulfilled to me in [my] bosom.

whom I, even I, will see on my side. My eyes will see, and not as a stranger. “My heart is consumed within me.

28 But if you shall also say, What shall we say before him, and [so] find the root of the matter in him?

If you say, ‘How we will persecute him!’ because the root of the matter is found in me,

29 Do you also beware of deceit: for wrath will come upon transgressors; and then shall they know where their substance is.

be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishments of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment.”