Job 19
1But Job answered by saying:
2How long will you afflict my soul and wear me down with words?
3So, ten times you confound me and are not ashamed to oppress me.
4Now, of course, if I have been ignorant, my ignorance will be with me.
5But you have risen up against me, and you accuse me to my disgrace.
6At least now you should understand that God has not afflicted me with a balanced judgment, though he has encompassed me with his scourges.
7Behold, I will cry out, enduring violence, and no one will hear. I will announce loudly, but there is no one who may judge.
8He has hemmed in my path, and I cannot pass; he has added darkness to my difficult path.
9He has plundered me of my glory, and he has stolen the crown from my head.
10He has destroyed me on every side, and I am lost, and, like an uprooted tree, he has taken away my hope.
11His fury has raged against me, and in this way he has treated me like his enemy.
12His troops have gathered together, and they have made their way to me, and they have besieged my tabernacle all around.
13He has put my brothers far from me, and my friends have withdrawn from me like strangers.
14My kinsmen have forsaken me, and those who knew me, have forgotten me.
15The inhabitants of my house and my maidservants treat me just as if I were a stranger, and I have been like a sojourner in their eyes.
16I called my servant, and he did not respond; I pleaded with him with my own mouth.
17My wife has shuddered at my breath, and I have begged the sons of my loins.
18Even the foolish have looked down on me, and, when I withdrew from them, they spoke ill of me.
19Those who were sometimes my counselors, treat me like an abomination; and he whom I valued the most has turned against me.
20Since my flesh has been consumed, my bone adheres to my skin, and only my lips have been left around my teeth.
21Have mercy on me, have compassion on me, at least you my friends, because the hand of the Lord has touched me.
22Why do you pursue me just as God does, and satiate yourselves with my flesh?
23Who will grant to me that my words may be written down? Who will grant to me that they may be inscribed in a book,
24with an iron pen and a plate of lead, or else be carved in stone?
25For I know that my Redeemer lives, and on the last day I will rise out of the earth.
26And I will be enveloped again with my skin, and in my flesh I will see my God.
27It is he whom I myself will see, and he whom my eyes will behold, and no other. This, my hope, has taken rest in my bosom.
28Why then do you now say: “Let us pursue him, and let us find a basis to speak against him?”
29So then, flee from the face of the sword, for the sword is the avenger of iniquities; but know this: there is to be a judgment.
1Then Job answered and said,
2How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
3These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.
4And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.
5If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:
6Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.
7Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.
8He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.
9He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.
10He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.
11He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.
12His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.
13He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.
14My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.
15They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.
16I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.
17My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children’s sake of mine own body.
18Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.
19All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.
20My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.
21Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.
22Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
23Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
24That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
25For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
28But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?
29Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.