< Job 19 >

1 Then Job answered, and said:
Then Job answered and said,
2 How long do you afflict my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
How long will ye vex my soul, And break me in pieces with words?
3 Behold, these ten times you confound me, and are not ashamed to oppress me.
These ten times have ye reproached me: Ye are not ashamed that ye deal hardly with me.
4 For if I have been ignorant, my ignorance shall be with me.
And be it indeed that I have erred, Mine error remaineth with myself.
5 But you have set yourselves up against me, and reprove me with my reproaches.
If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, And plead against me my reproach;
6 At least now understand, that God hath not afflicted me with an equal judgment, and compassed me with his scourges.
Know now that God hath subverted me [in my cause], And hath compassed me with his net.
7 Behold I cry suffering violence, and no one will hear: I shall cry aloud, and there is none to judge.
Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry for help, but there is no justice.
8 He hath hedged in my path round about, and I cannot pass, and in my way he hath set darkness.
He hath walled up my way that I cannot pass, And hath set darkness in my paths.
9 He hath stripped me of my glory, and hath taken the crown from my head.
He hath stripped me of my glory, And taken the crown from my head.
10 He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am lost, and he hath taken away my hope, as from a tree that is plucked up.
He hath broken me down on every side, and I am gone; And my hope hath he plucked up like a tree.
11 His wrath is kindled against me, and he hath counted me as his enemy.
He hath also kindled his wrath against me, And he counteth me unto him as [one of] his adversaries.
12 His troops have come together, and have made themselves a way by me, and have besieged my tabernacle round about.
His troops come on together, And cast up their way against me, And encamp round about my tent.
13 He hath put my brethren far from me, and my acquaintance like strangers have departed from me.
He hath put my brethren far from me, And mine acquaintance are wholly estranged from me.
14 My kinsmen have forsaken me, and they that knew me, have forgotten me.
My kinsfolk have failed, And my familiar friends have forgotten me.
15 They that dwelt in my house, and my maidservants have counted me a stranger, and I have been like an alien in their eyes.
They that dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.
16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer, I entreated him with my own mouth.
I call unto my servant, and he giveth me no answer, [Though] I entreat him with my mouth.
17 My wife hath abhorred my breath, and I entreated the children of my womb.
My breath is strange to my wife, And my supplication to the children of mine own mother.
18 Even fools despise me; and when I gone from them, they spoke against me.
Even young children despise me; If I arise, they speak against me.
19 They that were sometime my counsellors, have abhorred me: and he whom I love most is turned against me.
All my familiar friends abhor me, And they whom I loved are turned against me.
20 The flesh being consumed. My bone hath cleaved to my skin, and nothing but lips are left about 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, at least you my friends, because the hand of the Lord hath 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 glut yourselves with my flesh?
Why do ye persecute me as God, And are not satisfied with my flesh?
23 Who will grant me that my words may be written? Who will grant me that they may be marked down in a book?
Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
24 With an iron pen and in a plate of lead, or else be graven with an instrument in flint stone.
That with an iron pen and lead They were graven in the rock for ever!
25 For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and in the last day I shall rise out of the earth.
But as for me I know that my Redeemer liveth, And at last he will stand up upon the earth:
26 And I shall be clothed again with my skin, and in my flesh I will see my God.
And after my skin, [even] this [body], is destroyed, Then without my flesh shall I see God;
27 Whom I myself shall see, and my eyes shall behold, and not another: this my hope is laid up in my bosom.
Whom I, even I, shall see, on my side, And mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger. My heart is consumed within me.
28 Why then do you say now: Let us persecute him, and let us find occasion of word against him?
If ye say, How we will persecute him! And that the root of the matter is found in me;
29 Flee then from the face of the sword, for the sword is the revenger of iniquities: and know ye that there is 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 >