< Job 19 >

1 Then Job answered, and said:
Then Job answered,
2 How long do you afflict my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
"How long will you torment me, and crush me with words?
3 Behold, these ten times you confound me, and are not ashamed to oppress me.
You have reproached me ten times. You aren't ashamed that you attack me.
4 For if I have been ignorant, my ignorance shall be with me.
If it is true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.
5 But you have set yourselves up against me, and reprove me with my reproaches.
If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me, and plead my disgrace against me;
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 has subverted me, and has surrounded 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.
"Look, I cry out 'Injustice.' 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 has walled up my way so that I can't pass, and has set darkness in my paths.
9 He hath stripped me of my glory, and hath taken the crown from my head.
He has 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 has broken me down on every side, and I am gone. My hope he has plucked up like a tree.
11 His wrath is kindled against me, and he hath counted me as his enemy.
He has also kindled his wrath against me. He counts me among 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, build a siege ramp against me, and camp around my tent.
13 He hath put my brethren far from me, and my acquaintance like strangers have departed from me.
"He has put my brothers far from me. My acquaintances are wholly estranged from me.
14 My kinsmen have forsaken me, and they that knew me, have forgotten me.
My relatives have gone away. 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.
Those who dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger. I am a foreigner in their sight.
16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer, I entreated him with my own mouth.
I call to my servant, and he gives me no answer. I beg him with my mouth.
17 My wife hath abhorred my breath, and I entreated the children of my womb.
My breath is offensive to my wife. I am loathsome to the children of my 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. They whom I loved have 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 bones stick to my skin and to my flesh. I have escaped by 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 on me, have pity on me, you my friends; for the hand of God has touched me.
22 Why do you persecute me as God, and glut yourselves with my flesh?
Why do you 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 scroll.
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 engraved in the rock forever.
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 lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth.
26 And I shall be clothed again with my skin, and in my flesh I will see my God.
After my skin is destroyed, then in 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. My eyes shall see, 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 you say, 'How we will persecute him, because the root of the matter is found 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.
Be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishments of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment."

< Job 19 >