1And Iyoḇ answered and said,

2“How long would you grieve my life, and crush me with words?

3These ten times you have insulted me, shamelessly you attack me.

4Even if I have truly gone astray, my straying remains with me.

5If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me, and plead against me my reproach,

6know then that Eloah has overthrown me, and has surrounded me with His net.

7See, I cry, ‘Violence!’ but I am not heard. I cry aloud, but there is no right-ruling.

8He has fenced up my way, and I pass not over. And He has placed darkness in my paths.

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

10He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone; and uproots my expectancy like a tree.

11And He kindled His wrath against me, and He counts me as one of His enemies.

12His companies come together, and they cast up their way against me, and encamp all around my tent.

13He has removed my brothers far away from me, and my friends are completely estranged from me.

14My near ones have fallen away, and my close friends have forgotten me.

15The guests in my house, and my female servants, reckon me for a stranger – I am a foreigner in their eyes.

16I have called my servant, but he gives no answer – I have to beg him with my mouth.

17My spirit is strange to my wife, and my kindness to the children of my own body.

18Even young children have scorned me. I rise, and they speak against me.

19All my intimate friends loathe me, and those whom I love have turned against me.

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

21Show favour to me, show favour to me, O you my friends, for the hand of Eloah has struck me!

22Why do you persecute me like Ěl does, and are not satisfied with my flesh?

23Oh, that my words were written down! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book,

24engraved on a rock with an iron pen and lead, forever!

25For I know that my Redeemer lives, and as the Last shall rise over the dust;

26and after my skin has been struck off, then in my flesh I shall see Eloah,

27whom I myself shall see on my side, and not a stranger. My kidneys have failed within me!

28If you say, ‘Why do we persecute him?’ Seeing the root of the matter has been found in me,

29fear the sword yourselves, for wrath brings the punishment of the sword, so that you know there is a judgment.”