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.19.3 make…: or, harden yourselves against 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.19.7 wrong: or, violence
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.19.17 mine…: Heb. my belly 18Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.19.18 young…: or, the wicked 19All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.19.19 my…: Heb. the men of my secret 20My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.19.20 and to: or, as to 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!19.23 Oh…: Heb. Who will give, etc 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:19.26 And…: or, After I shall awake, though this body be destroyed, yet out of my flesh 27Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.19.27 another: Heb. a stranger19.27 though…: or, my reins within me are consumed with earnest desire (for that day)19.27 within…: Heb. in my bosom 28But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?19.28 seeing…: or, and what root of 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.
Job
1Then Job replied:
2‘How long will you torment me
and crush me with words?
3Ten times now you have reproached me;
shamelessly you attack me.
4If it is true that I have gone astray,
my error remains my concern alone.
5If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me
and use my humiliation against me,
6then know that God has wronged me
and drawn his net around me.
7‘Though I cry, “Violence!” I get no response;
though I call for help, there is no justice.
8He has blocked my way so that I cannot pass;
he has shrouded my paths in darkness.
9He has stripped me of my honour
and removed the crown from my head.
10He tears me down on every side till I am gone;
he uproots my hope like a tree.
11His anger burns against me;
he counts me among his enemies.
12His troops advance in force;
they build a siege ramp against me
and encamp around my tent.
13‘He has alienated my family from me;
my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.
14My relatives have gone away;
my closest friends have forgotten me.
15My guests and my female servants count me a foreigner;
they look upon me as a stranger.
16I summon my servant, but he does not answer,
though I beg him with my own mouth.
17My breath is offensive to my wife;
I am loathsome to my own family.
18Even the little boys scorn me;
when I appear, they ridicule me.
19All my intimate friends detest me;
those I love have turned against me.
20I am nothing but skin and bones;
I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.19:20 Or only by my gums
21‘Have pity on me, my friends, have pity,
for the hand of God has struck me.
22Why do you pursue me as God does?
Will you never get enough of my flesh?
23‘Oh, that my words were recorded,
that they were written on a scroll,
24that they were inscribed with an iron tool on19:24 Or and lead,
or engraved in rock for ever!
25I know that my redeemer19:25 Or vindicator lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.19:25 Or on my grave
26And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet19:26 Or And after I awake, / though this body has been destroyed, / then in19:26 Or destroyed, / apart from my flesh I will see God;
27I myself will see him
with my own eyes – I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
28‘If you say, “How we will hound him,
since the root of the trouble lies in him,19:28 any Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts me”
29you should fear the sword yourselves;
for wrath will bring punishment by the sword,
and then you will know that there is judgment.19:29 Or sword, / that you may come to know the Almighty’
