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1 Then Job answered and said,
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2 How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
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3 These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.
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4 And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.
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5 If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:
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6 Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.
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7 Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.
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8 He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.
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9 He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.
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10 He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.
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11 He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.
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12 His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.
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13 He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.
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14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.
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15 They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.
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16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.
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17 My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body.
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18 Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.
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19 All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.
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20 My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.
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21 Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.
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22 Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
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23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
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24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
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25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
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26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
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27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
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28 But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?
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29 Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.
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- 1 Then Job responded,
- 2 “How long will you torment me And crush me with words?
- 3 “These ten times you have insulted me; You are not ashamed to wrong me.
- 4 “Even if I have truly erred, My error lodges with me.
- 5 “If indeed you vaunt yourselves against me And prove my disgrace to me,
- 6 Know then that God has wronged me And has closed His net around me.
- 7 “Behold, I cry, 'Violence!' but I get no answer; I shout for help, but there is no justice.
- 8 “He has walled up my way so that I cannot pass, And He has put darkness on my paths.
- 9 “He has stripped my honor from me And removed the crown from my head.
- 10 “He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone; And He has uprooted my hope like a tree.
- 11 “He has also kindled His anger against me And considered me as His enemy.
- 12 “His troops come together, And build up their way against me And camp around my tent.
- 13 “He has removed my brothers far from me, And my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.
- 14 “My relatives have failed, And my intimate friends have forgotten me.
- 15 “Those who live in my house and my maids consider me a stranger. I am a foreigner in their sight.
- 16 “I call to my servant, but he does not answer; I have to implore him with my mouth.
- 17 “My breath is offensive to my wife, And I am loathsome to my own brothers.
- 18 “Even young children despise me; I rise up and they speak against me.
- 19 “All my associates abhor me, And those I love have turned against me.
- 20 “My bone clings to my skin and my flesh, And I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.
- 21 “Pity me, pity me, O you my friends, For the hand of God has struck me.
- 22 “Why do you persecute me as God does, And are not satisfied with my flesh?
- 23 “Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
- 24 “That with an iron stylus and lead They were engraved in the rock forever!
- 25 “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.
- 26 “Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God;
- 27 Whom I myself shall behold, And whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me!
- 28 “If you say, 'How shall we persecute him?' And 'What pretext for a case against him can we find?'
- 29 “Then be afraid of the sword for yourselves, For wrath brings the punishment of the sword, So that you may know there is judgment.”
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