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

3 Behold, these ten times you confound me, and are not ashamed to oppress me.

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

4 For if I have been ignorant, my ignorance shall be with me.

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.

5 But you have set yourselves up against me, and reprove me with my reproaches.

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

6 At least now understand, that God hath not afflicted me with an equal judgment, and compassed me with his scourges.

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

7 Behold I cry suffering violence, and no one will hear: I shall cry aloud, and there is none to judge.

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

8 He hath hedged in my path round about, and I cannot pass, and in my way he hath set darkness.

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

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

And he has stripped me of my glory, and has 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 has torn me around about, and I am gone: and he has cut off my hope like a tree.

11 His wrath is kindled against me, and he hath counted me as his enemy.

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

12 His troops have come together, and have made themselves a way by me, and have besieged my tabernacle round about.

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

13 He hath put my brethren far from me, and my acquaintance like strangers have departed from me.

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

14 My kinsmen have forsaken me, and they that knew me, have forgotten me.

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

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

16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer, I entreated him with my own mouth.

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

17 My wife hath abhorred my breath, and I entreated the children of my womb.

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

18 Even fools despise me; and when I gone from them, they spoke against me.

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

19 They that were sometime my counsellors, have abhorred me: and he whom I love most is turned against me.

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

20 The flesh being consumed. My bone hath cleaved to my skin, and nothing but lips are left about my teeth.

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

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

22 Why do you persecute me as God, and glut yourselves with my flesh?

Therefore do you persecute me as also the Lord [does], 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?

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

24 With an iron pen and in a plate of lead, or else be graven with an instrument in flint stone.

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

25 For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and in the last day I shall rise out of the earth.

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

26 And I shall be clothed again with my skin, and in my flesh I will see my God.

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

27 Whom I myself shall see, and my eyes shall behold, and not another: this my hope is laid up in my bosom.

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.

28 Why then do you say now: Let us persecute him, and let us find occasion of word against him?

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

29 Flee then from the face of the sword, for the sword is the revenger of iniquities: and know ye that there is judgment.

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