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 you make me suffer and break me into pieces with words?
3 Ten times already you have humiliated me. Aren't you ashamed for treating me so badly?
These ten times you have reproached me; you are not ashamed that you have treated me harshly.
4 Even if I did sin, that's my problem, and has nothing to do with you.
If it is indeed true that I have erred, my error remains my own concern.
5 You think you're so much better than me, and you use my degradation against me.
If indeed you will exalt yourselves above me and use my humiliation against me,
6 But you should realize that it's God who has wronged me, he has trapped me in his net.
then you should know that God has done wrong to me and has caught me in his net.
7 Even though I cry for help, I get no answer; even though I shout my objections, I get no justice.
See, I cry out, “Violence!” but I get no answer. I call out 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 he has set darkness in my path.
9 He has stripped my honor from me; he has taken away my reputation.
He has stripped me of my glory, and he has 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 pulled up my hope 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 regards me 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; they cast up siege mounds 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 alienated from me.
14 My relatives have abandoned me; my close friends have forgotten me.
My kinsfolk have failed me; my close 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 once stayed as guests in my house and my female servants regard me as 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, but he gives me no answer although I entreat 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 even disgusting to those who were born from my mother's womb.
18 Even young children despise me; when I stand up they ridicule me.
Even young children despise me; if I rise to speak, 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; those whom I love have turned against me.
20 I've been reduced to skin and bones and I survive by the skin of my teeth.
My bones cling to my skin and to my flesh; I survive only 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 upon me, have pity upon me, 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 pursue me like God does? Will you ever be satisfied with my flesh?
23 I wish my words could be written down, recorded in a book,
Oh, that my words were now written down! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book!
24 or engraved with an iron pen and molten lead in the rock forever.
Oh, 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, and that at last he will stand on the earth;
26 Even though my skin is destroyed, in my body I shall see God.
after my skin, that is, this body, is destroyed, then in my flesh I will see God.
27 I myself will see him—with my own eyes, and not those of someone else! The thought overcomes me!
I will see him with my own eyes—I, and not someone else. My heart fails 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! The root of his troubles lies in him,'
29 You yourselves should fear being punished by God, for you know anger brings God's punishment that accompanies judgment.”
then be afraid of the sword, because wrath brings the punishment of the sword, so that you may know there is a judgment.”
