< Job 19 >

1 Then Job answered,
Then Job answered and said,
2 "How long will you torment me, and crush me with words?
How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
3 You have reproached me ten times. You aren't ashamed that you attack me.
These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed [that] ye make yourselves strange to me.
4 If it is true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.
And be it indeed [that] I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.
5 If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me, and plead my disgrace against me;
If indeed ye will magnify [yourselves] against me, and plead against me my reproach:
6 know now that God has subverted me, and has surrounded me with his net.
Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.
7 "Look, I cry out 'Injustice.' but there is no justice.
Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but [there is] no judgment.
8 He has walled up my way so that I can't pass, and has set darkness in my paths.
He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.
9 He has stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.
He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown [from] my head.
10 He has broken me down on every side, and I am gone. My hope he has plucked up like a tree.
He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.
11 He has also kindled his wrath against me. He counts me among his adversaries.
He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as [one of] his enemies.
12 His troops come on together, build a siege ramp against me, and camp around my tent.
His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.
13 "He has put my brothers far from me. My acquaintances are wholly estranged from me.
He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.
14 My relatives have gone away. My familiar friends have forgotten me.
My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.
15 Those who dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger. I am a foreigner in their sight.
They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.
16 I call to my servant, and he gives me no answer. I beg him with my mouth.
I called my servant, and he gave [me] no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.
17 My breath is offensive to my wife. I am loathsome to the children of my own mother.
My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children’s [sake] of mine own body.
18 Even young children despise me. If I arise, they speak against me.
Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.
19 All my familiar friends abhor me. They whom I loved have turned against me.
All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.
20 My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh. I have escaped 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, have pity on me, you my friends; for the hand of God has touched me.
Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.
22 Why do you persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
23 "Oh that my words were now written. Oh that they were inscribed in a scroll.
Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
24 That with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever.
That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
25 But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth.
For I know [that] my redeemer liveth, and [that] he shall stand at the latter [day] upon the earth:
26 After my skin is destroyed, then in my flesh shall I see God,
And [though] after my skin [worms] destroy this [body], yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27 Whom I, even I, shall see on my side. My eyes shall see, and not as a stranger. My heart is consumed within me.
Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; [though] my reins be consumed within me.
28 If you say, 'How we will persecute him, because the root of the matter is found in him.'
But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?
29 Be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishments of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment."
Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath [bringeth] the punishments of the sword, that ye may know [there is] a judgment.

< Job 19 >