< 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 ye vex my soul, and crush me with words?
3 You have reproached me ten times. You are not ashamed that you attack me.
These ten times have ye reproached me; ye are not ashamed that ye deal harshly with me.
4 If it is true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.
And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.
5 If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach,
If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach;
6 know now that God has subverted me, and has surrounded me with his net.
Know now that God hath subverted my cause, and hath compassed me with His net.
7 “Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard. I cry for help, but there is no justice.
Behold, I cry out: 'Violence!' but I am not heard; I cry aloud, but there is no justice.
8 He has walled up my way so that I cannot pass, and has set darkness in my paths.
He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and hath set darkness in my paths.
9 He has stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.
He hath stripped me of my glory, and 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 hath broken me down on every side, and I am gone; and my hope hath He plucked up like a tree.
11 He has also kindled his wrath against me. He counts me among his adversaries.
He hath also kindled His wrath against me, and He counteth me unto Him 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, and cast up their way against me, and encamp round about my tent.
13 “He has put my brothers far from me. My acquaintances are wholly estranged from me.
He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are wholly estranged from me.
14 My relatives have gone away. My familiar friends have forgotten me.
My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar 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.
They that dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger; I am become 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 unto my servant, and he giveth me no answer, though 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 abhorred of my wife, and I am loathsome to the children of my tribe.
18 Even young children despise me. If I arise, they speak against me.
Even urchins despised me; if I arise, they speak against me.
19 All my familiar friends abhor me. They whom I loved have turned against me.
All my intimate friends abhor me; and they whom I loved are turned against me.
20 My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh. I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with 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, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.
22 Why do you persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not 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! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
24 That with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!
That with an iron pen and lead they were graven in the rock for ever!
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 liveth, and that He will witness at the last upon the dust;
26 After my skin is destroyed, then I will see God in my flesh,
And when after my skin this is destroyed, then without my flesh shall I 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.
Whom I, even I, shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another's. My reins are consumed within me.
28 If you say, ‘How we will persecute him!’ because the root of the matter is found in me,
If ye say: 'How we will persecute him!' seeing that the root of the matter is found in me;
29 be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishments of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment.”
Be ye afraid of the sword; for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.

< Job 19 >