Job 19
1 Job replied,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 “How long will you go on tormenting me? How long will you go on crushing me with words?
How long will ye grieve my soul, and crush me with words?
3 Ten times already you have humiliated me. Aren't you ashamed for treating me so badly?
These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed when ye show yourselves as strangers to me.
4 Even if I did sin, that's my problem, and has nothing to do with you.
Yea, if it be indeed that I have erred, let my error remain with myself.
5 You think you're so much better than me, and you use my degradation against me.
But if indeed ye wish to magnify yourselves above me, and to prove against me my disgrace:
6 But you should realize that it's God who has wronged me, he has trapped me in his net.
Then know for certain that God hath bent me down, and hath laid his net all around me.
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 concerning the violence [done me], but I am not answered: I entreat aloud, but there is no justice.
8 God has walled me in so I can't escape; he has plunged my path into darkness.
My road hath he fenced up, so that I cannot pass out; and on my paths he placeth darkness.
9 He has stripped my honor from me; he has taken away my reputation.
My glory hath he stripped from me, and removed the crown of 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 hath pulled me down on every side, and I am going hence; and he hath rooted up like a tree my hope.
11 His anger burns against me; he treats me as one of his enemies.
He hath also kindled against me his wrath, and he counteth me with himself as one of his adversaries.
12 God's troops assemble to attack me. They build ramparts against me. They encircle and besiege my home.
Altogether come on his troops, and make level against me their way, and encamp round about my tent.
13 He has driven my brothers far away from me; all my former friends are estranged from me.
My brothers hath he removed far from me, and my acquaintance are entirely estranged from me.
14 My relatives have abandoned me; my close friends have forgotten me.
My near of kin have withdrawn, and those befriended by me have forgotten me.
15 My house guests and my maidservants treat me as a stranger—to them I have become a foreigner.
Ye that sojourn in my house, and my maid-servants, regard me as a stranger: an alien am I become in their eyes.
16 I call my servant, but he doesn't reply. I have to beg him!
I call for my servant, but he will not answer, though I were to entreat him with my mouth.
17 I am repulsive to my wife, and I am loathsome to my own brothers.
My breath is become nauseous to my wife, and my caressing, to the children of my own body.
18 Even young children despise me; when I stand up they ridicule me.
Yea, children even despise me: I rise up, but they speak against me.
19 All my closest friends despise me, and those I loved have turned on me.
All that have had my confidence abominate me; and those whom I have loved are turned against me.
20 I've been reduced to skin and bones and I survive by the skin of my teeth.
To my skin and to my flesh my bones do cleave, and I must sustain myself with the gums of my teeth.
21 Have pity on me, my friends, have pity on me, because God has struck me down!
Spare me, spare me, O ye, my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.
22 Why are you persecuting me like God does? Aren't you satisfied with getting your pound of flesh?
Why will ye persecute me as God [hath done], and will never be satisfied with my flesh?
23 I wish my words could be written down, recorded in a book,
Oh who would but grant, that my words might be written down! oh who would grant that they were entered in a book!
24 or engraved with an iron pen and molten lead in the rock forever.
That they were hewn with an iron pen and [blackened with] lead for eternity in the hard rock!
25 I know my Redeemer is alive, and that he shall finally take the stand for me on the earth.
And well I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he will remain as the last after the creatures of the dust [are passed away];
26 Even though my skin is destroyed, in my body I shall see God.
And after my skin is cut to pieces will this be: and then freed from my body shall I behold God;
27 I myself will see him—with my own eyes, and not those of someone else! The thought overcomes me!
Whom I shall myself behold to my happiness, and whom my eyes will see, and not as a stranger, [when even] my reins are consumed within my bosom.
28 You say to yourselves, ‘How can we make him suffer so he can see he is the source of his problems?’
But if ye should say, How will we pursue him? seeing 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.”
Then have dread for yourselves of the sword; for the wrath [which ye excite] is an iniquity that bringeth the sword; in order that ye may know there is one that judgeth [in the world].
