Job 19
1 Then Job answered, and said:
Then Job replied:
2 How long do you afflict my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
“How long will you [three] torment me and crush my spirit by saying to me [that I am wicked]?
3 Behold, these ten times you confound me, and are not ashamed to oppress me.
You have already insulted me many [HYP] times; (are you not ashamed for saying these things to me?/you should be ashamed for saying these things to me.) [RHQ]
4 For if I have been ignorant, my ignorance shall be with me.
Even if it were true that I have done things that are wrong, I have not injured you!
5 But you have set yourselves up against me, and reprove me with my reproaches.
If you truly think that you are better than I am, and you think that my being miserable now proves that I (am guilty/have committed many sins),
6 At least now understand, that God hath not afflicted me with an equal judgment, and compassed me with his scourges.
you need to realize that it is God who has caused me to suffer. [It is as though] he has trapped 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.
“I cry out, ‘Help me!’, but no one answers me. I call out loudly, but there is no one, [not even God, ] who acts fairly toward me.
8 He hath hedged in my path round about, and I cannot pass, and in my way he hath set darkness.
[It is as though] [MET] God has blocked my way, with the result that I cannot go where I want to; [it is as though] he has forced me to try to find my way in the darkness.
9 He hath stripped me of my glory, and hath taken the crown from my head.
He has (taken away my good reputation/caused people not to honor me any more); [it is as though] he removed [MET] a 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 batters me from every side, and I will soon die. He has caused me to no longer confidently expect [him to do good things for me].
11 His wrath is kindled against me, and he hath counted me as his enemy.
He attacks me because he is extremely angry with me [MET], and he considers that I am his enemy.
12 His troops have come together, and have made themselves a way by me, and have besieged my tabernacle round about.
[It is as though] he sends his army to attack me; they surround my tent, preparing to attack me.
13 He hath put my brethren far from me, and my acquaintance like strangers have departed from me.
“God has caused my brothers to abandon me, and all those who know me act like strangers to me.
14 My kinsmen have forsaken me, and they that knew me, have forgotten me.
All my relatives and good friends have left 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.
The people who were guests in my house have forgotten me, and my female servants consider that I am a stranger or that I am a foreigner.
16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer, I entreated him with my own mouth.
When I summon my servants, they do not answer; I plead with them to come [to help me, but they do not come].
17 My wife hath abhorred my breath, and I entreated the children of my womb.
My wife does not want to come close to me because my breath [smells very bad], and even my brothers detest me.
18 Even fools despise me; and when I gone from them, they spoke against me.
Even young children despise me; when I stand up [to talk to them], they laugh at me.
19 They that were sometime my counsellors, have abhorred me: and he whom I love most is turned against me.
My dearest friends detest me, and those whom I love [very much] 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 body is [only] skin and bones; I am barely alive [IDM].
21 Have pity on me, have pity on me, at least you my friends, because the hand of the Lord hath touched me.
[“I plead with] you, my [three] friends, pity me, because God has (struck [EUP] me with his hand/caused me to suffer greatly).
22 Why do you persecute me as God, and glut yourselves with my flesh?
Why do you cause me to suffer like God does? Why do you continue to slander [MET] me?
23 Who will grant me that my words may be written? Who will grant me that they may be marked down in a book?
“I wish/desire that someone would take these words of mine and write them permanently in a book [in order that people can read them].
24 With an iron pen and in a plate of lead, or else be graven with an instrument in flint stone.
Or else, I wish that he would carve them on a rock with (a chisel/an iron tool) in order that they would last forever.
25 For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and in the last day I shall rise out of the earth.
But I know that the one who vindicates/defends me in court is alive, and that some day he will stand [here] on the earth [and make the final decision about whether I deserve to be punished].
26 And I shall be clothed again with my skin, and in my flesh I will see my God.
And even after diseases have eaten away my skin, while I still have my body, I will 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.
I will see him myself; I will see him with my own eyes! I am overwhelmed [as I think about that]!
28 Why then do you say now: Let us persecute him, and let us find occasion of word against him?
“If you three men say, ‘What more can we do to cause Job to suffer?’ and if you say, ‘He has caused his own [troubles],’
29 Flee then from the face of the sword, for the sword is the revenger of iniquities: and know ye that there is judgment.
you should be afraid that God will punish [MTY] you; he punishes those [like you] with whom he is angry; and when that happens, you will know that there is [someone who] judges [people].”
