Job 19
1 Job replied,
Then Job answered 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 vex my soul and break me in pieces 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 that ye deal hardly with me.
4 Even if I did sin, that's my problem, and has nothing to do with you.
And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.
5 You think you're so much better than me, and you use my degradation against me.
If indeed ye 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 hath subverted me [in my cause], and hath compassed 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 judgment.
8 God has walled me in so I can't escape; he has plunged my path into darkness.
He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and hath set darkness in my paths.
9 He has stripped my honor from me; he has taken away my reputation.
He hath 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 hath broken me down on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he plucked up like a tree.
11 His anger burns against me; he treats me as one of his enemies.
He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as [one of] 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, and cast up their way against me, and encamp round about my tent.
13 He has driven my brothers far away from me; all my former friends are estranged from me.
He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are wholly estranged from me.
14 My relatives have abandoned me; my close friends have forgotten me.
My kinsfolk have failed, and 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.
They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for 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 unto my servant, and he giveth me no answer, [though] I entreat him with my mouth.
17 I am repulsive to my wife, and I am loathsome to my own brothers.
My breath is strange to my wife, and my supplication to the children of my [mother’s] womb.
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 inward friends abhor me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.
20 I've been reduced to skin and bones and I survive by the skin of my teeth.
My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.
21 Have pity on me, my friends, have pity on me, because God has struck me down!
Have pity upon me, have pity upon 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 do ye 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 graven in the rock for ever!
25 I know my Redeemer is alive, and that he shall finally take the stand for me on the earth.
But I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand up at the last upon the earth:
26 Even though my skin is destroyed, in my body I shall see God.
And after my skin hath been thus destroyed, yet from my flesh shall I see God:
27 I myself will see him—with my own eyes, and not those of someone else! The thought overcomes me!
Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. My reins are 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 ye say, How we will persecute him! seeing that 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 ye afraid of the sword: for wrath [bringeth] the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.
