Job 19

1 Then Job answered,

Then Job answered and said,

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

“How long will you make me suffer and break me into pieces with words?

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

These ten times you have reproached me; you are not ashamed that you have treated me harshly.

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

If it is indeed true that I have erred, my error remains my own concern.

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

If indeed you will exalt yourselves above me and use my humiliation against me,

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

then you should know that God has done wrong to me and has caught me in his net.

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

See, I cry out, “Violence!” but I get no answer. I call out for help, but there is no justice.

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

He has walled up my way so that I cannot pass, and he has set darkness in my path.

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

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

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

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

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

He has also kindled his wrath against me; he regards me as one of his adversaries.

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

His troops come on together; they cast up siege mounds against me and encamp around my tent.

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

He has put my brothers far from me; my acquaintances are wholly alienated from me.

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

My kinsfolk have failed me; my close friends have forgotten me.

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

Those who once stayed as guests in my house and my female servants regard me as a stranger; I am an alien in their sight.

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

I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer although I entreat him with my mouth.

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

My breath is offensive to my wife; I am even disgusting to those who were born from my mother's womb.

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

Even young children despise me; if I rise to speak, they speak against me.

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

All my familiar friends abhor me; those whom I love have turned against me.

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

My bones cling to my skin and to my flesh; I survive only by the skin of my teeth.

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

Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, my friends, for the hand of God has touched me.

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

Why do you pursue me like God does? Will you ever be satisfied with my flesh?

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

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

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

Oh, that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!

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

But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at last he will stand on the earth;

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

after my skin, that is, this body, is destroyed, then in my flesh I will see God.

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

I will see him with my own eyes—I, and not someone else. My heart fails within me.

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

If you say, 'How we will persecute him! The root of his troubles lies in him,'

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

then be afraid of the sword, because wrath brings the punishment of the sword, so that you may know there is a judgment.”