Job Speaks

1Then Job answered and said,

2How long will you torment my soul, and break me in pieces with words?

3These ten times have you reproached me: you are not ashamed that you have wronged me.

4And if indeed I have erred, my error remains with myself.

5If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:

6Know now that God has overthrown me, and has compassed me with his net.

7Behold, I cry out concerning wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no justice.

8He has fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he has set darkness in my paths.

9He has stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.

10He has destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and my hope has he removed like a tree.

11He has also kindled his wrath against me, and he counts me unto him as one of his enemies.

12His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tent.

13He has put my brethren far from me, and my acquaintances are wholly estranged from me.

14My kinsfolk have failed, and my close friends have forgotten me.

15They that dwell in my house, and my maidservants, count me as a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.

16I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I entreated him with my mouth.

17My breath is repulsive to my wife, though I make supplication for the children of my own body.

18Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spoke against me.

19All my close friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved have turned against me.

20My bone clings to my skin and to my flesh, and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.

21Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O you my friends; for the hand of God has touched me.

22Why do you 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 engraved with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever!

25For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

26And though after my skin is thus destroyed, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

27Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another; though my heart be consumed within me.

28But you should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?

29Be yourselves afraid of the sword: for wrath brings the punishment of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment.