Job 19
Job cries out that God has overthrown him and stripped him of his glory, turning family and friends against him. Yet he makes his greatest declaration of faith: "I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth."
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Then Job answered and said, | Then Job answered and said: |
| 2 | How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words? | "How long will you 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. | These ten times have you reproached me; you are not ashamed that you make yourselves strange to me. |
| 4 | And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself. | And be it indeed that I have erred, my error remains with myself. |
| 5 | If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach: | If indeed you 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. | know now that God has overthrown me, and has 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. | See, 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. | He has fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he has set darkness in my paths. |
| 9 | He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head. | He has 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. | He has destroyed me on every side, and I am gone; and my hope has 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. | He has also kindled his wrath against me, and he counts me to him as one of his enemies. |
| 12 | His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle. | 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. | He has put my brethren far from me, and my acquaintance are truly estranged from me. |
| 14 | My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. | 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. | They that live in my 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 entreated him with my mouth. | I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I entreated him with my mouth. |
| 17 | My breath is strange to my wife, though I entreated for the children's sake of mine own body. | My breath is strange to my wife, though I entreated for the children's sake of my own body. |
| 18 | Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me. | Yes, young children despised me; I arose, and they spoke against me. |
| 19 | All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me. | 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. | My bone cleaves to my skin and to my flesh, and I have 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. | Have pity on me, have pity on me, O my friends; for the hand of God has touched me. |
| 22 | Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? | Why do you 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! | 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! | That they were engraved 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: | For I know that my redeemer lives, and that He shall stand at the latter day on the earth; |
| 26 | And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: | 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. | whom I shall see for myself, and my 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? | But You should say, 'Why do we persecute 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. | Be afraid of the sword; for wrath brings the punishments of the sword, that You may know there is a judgment." |