Job 19
1 Job replied,
Then Job answered,
2 “How long will you go on tormenting me? How long will you go on crushing me with words?
“How long will you torment me, and crush me with words?
3 Ten times already you have humiliated me. Aren't you ashamed for treating me so badly?
You have reproached me ten times. You are not ashamed that you attack me.
4 Even if I did sin, that's my problem, and has nothing to do with you.
If it is true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.
5 You think you're so much better than me, and you use my degradation against me.
If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach,
6 But you should realize that it's God who has wronged me, he has trapped me in his net.
know now that God has subverted me, and has surrounded me with his net.
7 Even though I cry for help, I get no answer; even though I shout my objections, I get no justice.
“Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard. I cry for help, but there is no justice.
8 God has walled me in so I can't escape; he has plunged my path into darkness.
He has walled up my way so that I cannot pass, and has set darkness in my paths.
9 He has stripped my honor from me; he has taken away my reputation.
He has stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.
10 He tears me down from all sides until I am finished; he has destroyed my hope like a tree that is uprooted.
He has broken me down on every side, and I am gone. He has plucked my hope up like a tree.
11 His anger burns against me; he treats me as one of his enemies.
He has also kindled his wrath against me. He counts me among his adversaries.
12 God's troops assemble to attack me. They build ramparts against me. They encircle and besiege my home.
His troops come on together, build a siege ramp against me, and encamp around my tent.
13 He has driven my brothers far away from me; all my former friends are estranged from me.
“He has put my brothers far from me. My acquaintances are wholly estranged from me.
14 My relatives have abandoned me; my close friends have forgotten me.
My relatives have gone away. My familiar friends have forgotten me.
15 My house guests and my maidservants treat me as a stranger—to them I have become a foreigner.
Those who dwell in my house and my maids consider me a stranger. I am an alien in their sight.
16 I call my servant, but he doesn't reply. I have to beg him!
I call to my servant, and he gives me no answer. I beg him with my mouth.
17 I am repulsive to my wife, and I am loathsome to my own brothers.
My breath is offensive to my wife. I am loathsome to the children of my own mother.
18 Even young children despise me; when I stand up they ridicule me.
Even young children despise me. If I arise, they speak against me.
19 All my closest friends despise me, and those I loved have turned on me.
All my familiar friends abhor me. They whom I loved have turned against me.
20 I've been reduced to skin and bones and I survive by the skin of 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, my friends, have pity on me, because God has struck me down!
“Have pity on me. Have pity on me, you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me.
22 Why are you persecuting me like God does? Aren't you satisfied with getting your pound of flesh?
Why do you persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
23 I wish my words could be written down, recorded in a book,
“Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
24 or engraved with an iron pen and molten lead in the rock forever.
That with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!
25 I know my Redeemer is alive, and that he shall finally take the stand for me on the earth.
But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth.
26 Even though my skin is destroyed, in my body I shall see God.
After my skin is destroyed, then I will see God in my flesh,
27 I myself will see him—with my own eyes, and not those of someone else! The thought overcomes me!
whom I, even I, will see on my side. My eyes will see, and not as a stranger. “My heart is consumed within me.
28 You say to yourselves, ‘How can we make him suffer so he can see he is the source of his problems?’
If you say, ‘How we will persecute him!’ because the root of the matter is found in me,
29 You yourselves should fear being punished by God, for you know anger brings God's punishment that accompanies judgment.”
be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishments of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment.”
