Job: My Redeemer Lives

1Then Job answered, and said:

2How long do you afflict my soul, and break me in pieces with words?

3Behold, these ten times you confound me, and are not ashamed to oppress me.

4For if I have been ignorant, my ignorance shall be with me.

5But you set yourselves up against me, and reprove me with my reproaches.

6At least now understand, that God hath not afflicted me with an equal judgment, and compassed me with his scourges.

7Behold I shall cry suffering violence, and no one will hear: I shall cry aloud, and there is none to judge.

8He hath hedged in my path round about, and I cannot pass, and in my way he hath set darkness.

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

10He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am lost, and he hath taken away my hope, as from a tree that is plucked up.

11His wrath is kindled against me, and he hath counted me as his enemy.

12His troops have come together, and have made themselves a way by me, and have besieged my tabernacle round about.

13He hath put my brethren far from me, and my acquaintance like strangers have departed from me.

14My kinsmen have forsaken me, and they that knew me, have forgotten me.

15They that dwell in my house, and my maidservants have counted me as a stranger, and I have been like an alien in their eyes.

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

17My wife hath abhorred my breath, and I entreated the children of my womb.

18Even fools despised me, and when I was gone from them, they spoke against me.

19They that were sometime my counsellors, have abhorred me: and he whom I loved most is turned against me.

20The flesh being consumed, my bone hath cleaved to my skin, and nothing but lips are left about my teeth.

21Have pity on me, have pity on me, at least you my friends, because the hand of the Lord hath touched me.

22Why do you persecute me as God, and glut yourselves with my flesh?

23Who will grant me that my words may be written? who will grant me that they may be marked down in a book?

24With an iron pen and in a plate of lead, or else be graven with an instrument in flint stone?

25For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and in the last day I shall rise out of the earth.

26And I shall be clothed again with my skin, and in my flesh I shall see my God.

27Whom I myself shall see, and my eyes shall behold, and not another: this my hope is laid up in my bosom.

28Why then do you say now: Let us persecute him, and let us find occasion of word against him?

29Flee then from the face of the sword, for the sword is the revenger of iniquities: and know ye that there is a judgment.