Job 19

1 Then Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said,

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

How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?

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

These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.

4 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.

And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.

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

If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:

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

Know now that Eloah hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.

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

Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.

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

He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.

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

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

10 He has torn me around about, and I am gone: and he has cut off my hope like a tree.

He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.

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

He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.

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

His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.

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

He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.

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

My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.

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

They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.

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

I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.

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

My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body.

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

Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.

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

All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.

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

My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.

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

Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of Eloah hath touched me.

22 Therefore do you persecute me as also the Lord [does], and are not satisfied with my flesh?

Why do ye persecute me as El, and are not satisfied with my flesh?

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

Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!

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

That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!

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

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

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

And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see Eloah:

27 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.

Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

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

But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?

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

Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.