Job

The book of Job, chapter 19, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 19 New English Translation

Job's Reply to Bildad

   1 Then Job answered:
   2 "How long will you torment me and crush me with your words?
   3 These ten times you have been reproaching me; you are not ashamed to attack me!
   4 But even if it were true that I have erred, my error remains solely my concern!
   5 If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and plead my disgrace against me,
   6 know then that God has wronged me and encircled me with his net.

Job's Abandonment and Affliction

   7 "If I cry out, 'Violence!' I receive no answer; I cry for help, but there is no justice.
   8 He has blocked my way so I cannot pass, and has set darkness over my paths.
   9 He has stripped me of my honor and has taken the crown off my head.
   10 He tears me down on every side until I perish; he uproots my hope like one uproots a tree.
   11 Thus his anger burns against me, and he considers me among his enemies.
   12 His troops advance together; they throw up a siege ramp against me, and they camp around my tent.

Job's Forsaken State

   13 "He has put my relatives far from me; my acquaintances only turn away from me.
   14 My kinsmen have failed me; my friends have forgotten me.
   15 My guests and my servant girls consider me a stranger; I am a foreigner in their eyes.
   16 I summon my servant, but he does not respond, even though I implore him with my own mouth.
   17 My breath is repulsive to my wife; I am loathsome to my brothers.
   18 Even youngsters have scorned me; when I get up, they scoff at me.
   19 All my closest friends detest me; and those whom I love have turned against me.
   20 My bones stick to my skin and my flesh; I have escaped alive with only the skin of my teeth.
   21 Have pity on me, my friends, have pity on me, for the hand of God has struck me.
   22 Why do you pursue me like God does? Will you never be satiated with my flesh?

Job's Assurance of Vindication

   23 "O that my words were written down, O that they were written on a scroll,
   24 that with an iron chisel and with lead they were engraved in a rock forever!
   25 As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that as the last he will stand upon the earth.
   26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God,
   27 whom I will see for myself, and whom my own eyes will behold, and not another. My heart grows faint within me.
   28 If you say, 'How we will pursue him, since the root of the trouble is found in him!'
   29 Fear the sword yourselves, for wrath brings the punishment by the sword, so that you may know that there is judgment."

King James Version

   1 Then Job answered and said,
   2 How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
   3 These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.
   4 And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.
   5 If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:
   6 Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.
   7 Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.
   8 He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.
   9 He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.
   10 He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.
   11 He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.
   12 His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.
   13 He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.
   14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.
   15 They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.
   16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.
   17 My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body.
   18 Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.
   19 All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.
   20 My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.
   21 Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.
   22 Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
   23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
   24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
   25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
   26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
   27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
   28 But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?
   29 Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.