19 2 Job reproveth his friends, 8 and reciteth his miseries and grievous pains. 25 He assureth himself of the general resurrection.
1 But Job answered, and said,
2 How long will ye vex my soul, and torment me with words?
3 Ye have now [a]ten times reproached me, and are not ashamed: ye are impudent toward me.
4 And though I had indeed erred, mine error [b]remaineth with me.
5 But indeed if ye will advance yourselves against me, and rebuke me for my reproach,
6 Know now, that God hath [c]overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.
7 Behold, I cry out of violence, but I have none answer: I cry, but there is no judgment.
8 He hath hedged up my way that I cannot [d]pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.
9 He hath spoiled me of mine honor, and taken the [e]crown away from mine head.
10 He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and he hath removed mine hope like [f]a tree.
11 And he hath kindled his wrath against me, and counteth me as one of his enemies.
12 His [g]armies came together, and made their way upon me, and camped about my tabernacle.
13 He hath removed my brethren far from me, and also mine acquaintance were strangers unto me.
14 My neighbors have forsaken me, and my familiars have forgotten me.
15 [h]They that dwell in mine house, and my maids took me for a stranger: for I was a stranger in their sight.
16 I called my servant, but he would not answer, though I prayed him with my mouth.
17 My breath was strange unto my wife, though I prayed her for the children’s sake of mine [i]own body.
18 The wicked also despised me, and when I rose, they spake against me.
19 All my secret friends abhorred me, and they whom I loved, are turned against me.
20 My bone [j]cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I have escaped with the [k]skin of my teeth.
21 Have pity upon me: have [l]pity upon me, (O ye my friends) for the hand of God hath touched me.
22 Why do ye persecute me, as [m]God? and are not satisfied with my [n]flesh?
23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were written even in a book,
24 And graven with [o]an iron pen in lead, or in stone forever!
25 For I am sure that my [p]Redeemer liveth, and he shall stand the last on the earth.
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet shall I see God [q]in my flesh.
27 Whom I myself shall see, and mine eyes shall behold, and none other for me, though my reins are consumed within me.
28 But ye said, Why is he persecuted? And there was a [r]deep matter in me.
29 Be ye afraid of the sword: for the sword will be [s]avenged of wickedness, that ye may know that there is a judgment.
Footnotes
- Job 19:3 That is, many times, as Neh. 4:12.
- Job 19:4 That is, I myself shall be punished for it, or you have not yet confuted it.
- Job 19:6 He bursteth out again into his passions, and declareth still that his affliction cometh of God, though he be not able to feel the cause in himself.
- Job 19:8 Meaning, out of his afflictions.
- Job 19:9 Meaning, his children, and whatsoever was dear unto him in this world.
- Job 19:10 Which is plucked up, and hath no more hope to grow.
- Job 19:12 His manifold afflictions.
- Job 19:15 Mine household servants: by all these losses Job showeth that touching the flesh he had great occasion to be moved.
- Job 19:17 Which were hers and mine.
- Job 19:20 Besides these great losses and most cruel unkindness, he was touched in his own person, as followeth.
- Job 19:20 All my flesh was consumed.
- Job 19:21 Seeing I have these just causes to complain, condemn me not as an hypocrite, specially ye which should comfort me.
- Job 19:22 Is it not enough that God doth punish me, except you by reproaches increase my sorrow?
- Job 19:22 To see my body punished, except ye trouble my mind?
- Job 19:24 He protesteth that notwithstanding his sore passions his religion is perfect: and that he is not a blasphemer as they judged him.
- Job 19:25 I do not so justify myself before the world, but I know that I shall come before the great Judge, who shall be my deliverer and Savior.
- Job 19:26 Herein Job declareth plainly that he had a full hope, that both the soul and body should enjoy the presence of God in the last resurrection.
- Job 19:28 Though his friends thought that he was but persecuted of God for his sins, yet he declareth that there was a deeper consideration, to wit, the trial of his faith and patience, and so to be an example for others.
- Job 19:29 God will be revenged of this hasty judgment, whereby you condemned me.