Job 19
1 Bvt Iob answered, and said,
Then Job answered:
2 Howe long will yee vexe my soule, and torment me with wordes?
“How long will you torment me and crush me with your words?
3 Ye haue now ten times reproched me, and are not ashamed: ye are impudent toward mee.
Ten times now you have reproached me; you shamelessly mistreat me.
4 And though I had in deede erred, mine errour remaineth with me.
Even if I have truly gone astray, my error concerns me alone.
5 But in deede if ye will aduance your selues against me, and rebuke me for my reproche,
If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and use my disgrace against me,
6 Know nowe, that God hath ouerthrowen me, and hath compassed me with his net.
then understand that it is God who has wronged me and drawn His net around me.
7 Beholde, I crie out of violence, but I haue none answere: I crie, but there is no iudgement.
Though I cry out, ‘Violence!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice.
8 Hee hath hedged vp my way that I cannot passe, and he hath set darkenesse in my paths.
He has blocked my way so I cannot pass; He has veiled my paths with darkness.
9 Hee hath spoyled mee of mine honour, and taken the crowne away from mine head.
He has stripped me of my honor and removed the crown from my head.
10 He hath destroyed mee on euery side and I am gone: and he hath remoued mine hope like a tree.
He tears me down on every side until I am gone; He uproots my hope like a tree.
11 And he hath kindled his wrath against me, and counteth mee as one of his enemies.
His anger burns against me, and He counts me among His enemies.
12 His armies came together, and made their way vpon me, and camped about my tabernacle.
His troops advance together; they construct a ramp against me and encamp around my tent.
13 He hath remooued my brethre farre from me, and also mine acquaintance were strangers vnto me.
He has removed my brothers from me; my acquaintances have abandoned me.
14 My neighbours haue forsaken me, and my familiars haue forgotten me.
My kinsmen have failed me, and my friends have forgotten me.
15 They that dwel in mine house, and my maydes tooke me for a stranger: for I was a stranger in their sight.
My guests and maidservants count me as a stranger; I am a foreigner in their sight.
16 I called my seruant, but he would not answere, though I prayed him with my mouth.
I call for my servant, but he does not answer, though I implore him with my own mouth.
17 My breath was strange vnto my wife, though I prayed her for the childrens sake of mine owne body.
My breath is repulsive to my wife, and I am loathsome to my own family.
18 The wicked also despised mee, and when I rose, they spake against me.
Even little boys scorn me; when I appear, they deride me.
19 All my secret friends abhorred me, and they whome I loued, are turned against me.
All my best friends despise me, and those I love have turned against me.
20 My bone cleaueth to my skinne and to my flesh, and I haue escaped with the skinne of my teeth.
My skin and flesh cling to my bones; I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
21 Haue pitie vpon me: haue pitie vpon me, (O yee my friendes) for the hande of God hath touched me.
Have pity on me, my friends, have pity, for the hand of God has struck me.
22 Why do ye persecute me, as God? and are not satisfied with my flesh?
Why do you persecute me as God does? Will you never get enough of my flesh?
23 Oh that my wordes were nowe written! oh that they were written euen in a booke,
I wish that my words were recorded and inscribed in a book,
24 And grauen with an yron pen in lead, or in stone for euer!
by an iron stylus on lead, or chiseled in stone forever.
25 For I am sure, that my Redeemer liueth, and he shall stand the last on the earth.
But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth.
26 And though after my skin wormes destroy this bodie, yet shall I see God in my flesh.
Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.
27 Whome I my selfe shall see, and mine eyes shall beholde, and none other for me, though my reynes are consumed within me.
I will see Him for myself; my eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger. How my heart yearns within me!
28 But yee sayde, Why is hee persecuted? And there was a deepe matter in me.
If you say, ‘Let us persecute him, since the root of the matter lies with him,’
29 Be ye afraide of the sworde: for the sworde will be auenged of wickednesse, that yee may knowe that there is a iudgement.
then you should fear the sword yourselves, because wrath brings punishment by the sword, so that you may know there is a judgment.”
