Job 19
1 Bvt Iob answered, and said,
Job replied,
2 Howe long will yee vexe my soule, and torment me with wordes?
“How long will you go on tormenting me? How long will you go on crushing me with words?
3 Ye haue now ten times reproched me, and are not ashamed: ye are impudent toward mee.
Ten times already you have humiliated me. Aren't you ashamed for treating me so badly?
4 And though I had in deede erred, mine errour remaineth with me.
Even if I did sin, that's my problem, and has nothing to do with you.
5 But in deede if ye will aduance your selues against me, and rebuke me for my reproche,
You think you're so much better than me, and you use my degradation against me.
6 Know nowe, that God hath ouerthrowen me, and hath compassed me with his net.
But you should realize that it's God who has wronged me, he has trapped me in his net.
7 Beholde, I crie out of violence, but I haue none answere: I crie, but there is no iudgement.
Even though I cry for help, I get no answer; even though I shout my objections, I get no justice.
8 Hee hath hedged vp my way that I cannot passe, and he hath set darkenesse in my paths.
God has walled me in so I can't escape; he has plunged my path into darkness.
9 Hee hath spoyled mee of mine honour, and taken the crowne away from mine head.
He has stripped my honor from me; he has taken away my reputation.
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 from all sides until I am finished; he has destroyed my hope like a tree that is uprooted.
11 And he hath kindled his wrath against me, and counteth mee as one of his enemies.
His anger burns against me; he treats me as one of his enemies.
12 His armies came together, and made their way vpon me, and camped about my tabernacle.
God's troops assemble to attack me. They build ramparts against me. They encircle and besiege my home.
13 He hath remooued my brethre farre from me, and also mine acquaintance were strangers vnto me.
He has driven my brothers far away from me; all my former friends are estranged from me.
14 My neighbours haue forsaken me, and my familiars haue forgotten me.
My relatives have abandoned me; my close 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 house guests and my maidservants treat me as a stranger—to them I have become a foreigner.
16 I called my seruant, but he would not answere, though I prayed him with my mouth.
I call my servant, but he doesn't reply. I have to beg him!
17 My breath was strange vnto my wife, though I prayed her for the childrens sake of mine owne body.
I am repulsive to my wife, and I am loathsome to my own brothers.
18 The wicked also despised mee, and when I rose, they spake against me.
Even young children despise me; when I stand up they ridicule me.
19 All my secret friends abhorred me, and they whome I loued, are turned against me.
All my closest friends despise me, and those I loved have turned on me.
20 My bone cleaueth to my skinne and to my flesh, and I haue escaped with the skinne of my teeth.
I've been reduced to skin and bones and I survive 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 on me, because God has struck me down!
22 Why do ye persecute me, as God? and are not satisfied with my flesh?
Why are you persecuting me like God does? Aren't you satisfied with getting your pound of flesh?
23 Oh that my wordes were nowe written! oh that they were written euen in a booke,
I wish my words could be written down, recorded in a book,
24 And grauen with an yron pen in lead, or in stone for euer!
or engraved with an iron pen and molten lead in the rock forever.
25 For I am sure, that my Redeemer liueth, and he shall stand the last on the earth.
I know my Redeemer is alive, and that he shall finally take the stand for me on the earth.
26 And though after my skin wormes destroy this bodie, yet shall I see God in my flesh.
Even though my skin is destroyed, in my body I shall 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 myself will see him—with my own eyes, and not those of someone else! The thought overcomes me!
28 But yee sayde, Why is hee persecuted? And there was a deepe matter in me.
You say to yourselves, ‘How can we make him suffer so he can see he is the source of his problems?’
29 Be ye afraide of the sworde: for the sworde will be auenged of wickednesse, that yee may knowe that there is a iudgement.
You yourselves should fear being punished by God, for you know anger brings God's punishment that accompanies judgment.”
