Job 19-21

¹Then Job answered and said, ²How long will ye vex my soul, And break me in pieces with words?

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 deal hardly with 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 subverted me in my cause, And hath compassed me with his net.

³These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to 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 for help, but there is no justice.

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

⁸He hath walled up my way that I cannot pass, And hath set darkness in my paths.

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

¹⁰He hath broken me down on every side, and I am gone; And my hope hath he plucked up like a tree.

¹¹He hath also kindled his wrath against me, And he counteth me unto him as one of his adversaries.

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 on together, And cast up their way against me, And encamp round about my tent.

¹³He hath put my brethren far from me, And mine acquaintance are wholly estranged from me.

¹⁴My kinsfolk have failed, And my familiar friends have forgotten me.

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

¹⁶I call unto my servant, and he giveth me no answer, Though I entreat him with my mouth.

¹⁷My breath is strange to my wife, And my supplication to the children of mine own mother.

¹⁸Even young children despise me; If I arise, they speak against me.

¹⁹All my familiar friends abhor me, And they whom I loved are turned against me.

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.

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

¹⁹All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.

²⁰My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, And I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.

²¹Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; For the hand of God hath touched me.

²⁰My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.

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 inscribed in a book!

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!

²⁴That with an iron pen and lead They were graven in the rock for ever!

²⁵But as for me I know that my Redeemer liveth, And at last he will stand up upon the earth: ²⁶And after my skin, even this body, is destroyed, Then without my flesh shall I see God; ²⁷Whom I, even I, shall see, on my side, And mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger. My heart is consumed within me.

²⁸If ye say, How we will persecute him! And that the root of the 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.

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:

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

²⁸But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the 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.

¹Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, ²Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, Even by reason of my haste that is in me.

³I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame; And the spirit of my understanding answereth me.

⁴Knowest thou not this of old time, Since man was placed upon earth, ⁵That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless but for a moment?

¹Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

²Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.

³I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.

⁴Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

⁵That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

⁶Though his height mount up to the heavens, And his head reach unto the clouds; ⁷Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: They that have seen him shall say, Where is he?

⁸He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: Yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

⁹The eye which saw him shall see him no more; Neither shall his place any more behold him.

¹⁰His children shall seek the favor of the poor, And his hands shall give back his wealth.

¹¹His bones are full of his youth, But it shall lie down with him in the dust.

¹²Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue, ¹³Though he spare it, and will not let it go, But keep it still within his mouth; ¹⁴Yet his food in his bowels is turned, It is the gall of asps within him.

¹⁵He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; God will cast them out of his belly.

⁶Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

⁷Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

⁸He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

⁹The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

¹⁰His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.

¹¹His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

¹²Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;

¹³Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:

¹⁴Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

¹⁵He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

¹⁶He shall suck the poison of asps: The viper’s tongue shall slay him.

¹⁷He shall not look upon the rivers, The flowing streams of honey and butter.

¹⁸That which he labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down; According to the substance that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice.

¹⁹For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; He hath violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.

²⁰Because he knew no quietness within him, He shall not save aught of that wherein he delighteth.

²¹There was nothing left that he devoured not; Therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

¹⁶He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.

¹⁷He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.

¹⁸That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.

¹⁹Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;

²⁰Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.

²¹There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.

²²In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: The hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him.

²³When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, And will rain it upon him while he is eating.

²⁴He shall flee from the iron weapon, And the bow of brass shall strike him through.

²⁵He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body; Yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall: Terrors are upon him.

²⁶All darkness is laid up for his treasures: A fire not blown by man shall devour him; It shall consume that which is left in his tent.

²⁷The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, And the earth shall rise up against him.

²⁸The increase of his house shall depart; His goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

²⁹This is the portion of a wicked man from God, And the heritage appointed unto him by God.

²²In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.

²³When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

²⁴He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.

²⁵It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.

²⁶All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.

²⁷The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.

²⁸The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

²⁹This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

¹Then Job answered and said, ²Hear diligently my speech; And let this be your consolations.

³Suffer me, and I also will speak; And after that I have spoken, mock on.

¹But Job answered and said,

²Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.

³Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

⁴As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?

⁵Mark me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth.

⁶Even when I remember I am troubled, And horror taketh hold on my flesh.

⁷Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?

⁸Their seed is established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.

⁹Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.

¹⁰Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

¹¹They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.

¹²They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

¹³They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment they go down to Sheol.

⁴As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?

⁵Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

⁶Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

⁷Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

⁸Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

⁹Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

¹⁰Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

¹¹They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

¹²They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

¹³They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.

¹⁴And they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

¹⁵What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

¹⁴Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

¹⁵What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

¹⁶Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

¹⁷How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity cometh upon them? That God distributeth sorrows in his anger?

¹⁸That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?

¹⁹Ye say, God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it: ²⁰Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

²¹For what careth he for his house after him, When the number of his months is cut off?

²²Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high?

²³One dieth in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet: ²⁴His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened.

²⁵And another dieth in bitterness of soul, And never tasteth of good.

²⁶They lie down alike in the dust, And the worm covereth them.

¹⁶Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

¹⁷How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

¹⁸They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

¹⁹God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

²⁰His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

²¹For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?

²²Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

²³One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

²⁴His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.

²⁵And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.

²⁶They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

²⁷Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me.

²⁸For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?

²⁷Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

²⁸For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

²⁹Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences, ³⁰That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?

³¹Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?

³²Yet shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb.

³³The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, And all men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him.

³⁴How then comfort ye me in vain, Seeing in your answers there remaineth only falsehood?

²⁹Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,

³⁰That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

³¹Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

³²Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.

³³The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.

³⁴How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?