Saltar a la lectura
Job 19
Job
Home
›
Books of the Bible
›
Job
›
Chapter 19
Faith at its height in desertion by God and man
1
Job spoke next. He said:
2
Will you never stop tormenting me, and shattering me with speeches?
3
Ten times, no less, you have insulted me, ill-treating me without a trace of shame.
4
Suppose that I have gone astray, suppose I am even yet in error:
5
it is still true, though you think you have the upper hand of me and feel that you have proved my guilt,
6
that God, you must know, is my oppressor, and his is the net that closes round me.
7
If I protest against such violence, there is no reply; if I appeal against it, judgement is never given.
8
He has built a wall across my path which I cannot pass, and covered my way with darkness.
9
He has stolen my honour away, and taken the crown from my head.
10
On every side he breaks through my defences, and I succumb. As a man a shrub, so he uproots my hope.
11
His anger flares against me, and he counts me as his enemy.
12
His troops have come in force, they have mounted their attack against me, laid siege to my tent.
13
My brothers stand aloof from me, and my relations take care to avoid me.
14
My kindred and my friends have all gone away, and the guests in my house have forgotten me.
15
The serving maids look on me as a foreigner, a stranger, never seen before.
16
My servant does not answer when I call him, I am reduced to entreating him.
17
To my wife my breath is unbearable, for my own brothers I am a thing corrupt.
18
Even the children look down on me, ever ready with a jibe when I appear.
19
All my dearest friends recoil from me in horror: those I loved best have turned against me.
20
Beneath my skin, my flesh begins to rot, and my bones stick out like teeth.
21
Pity me, pity me, you, my friends, for the hand of God has struck me.
22
Why do you hound me down like God, will you never have enough of my flesh?
23
Ah, would that these words of mine were written down, inscribed on some monument
24
with iron chisel and engraving tool, cut into the rock for ever.
25
This I know: that my Avenger[*a] lives, and he, the Last, will take his stand on earth.
26
After my awaking, he will set me close to him, and from my flesh I shall look on God.
27
He whom I shall see will take my part: these eyes will gaze on him and find him not aloof. My heart within me sinks…
28
You, then, that mutter, ‘How shall we track him down, what pretext shall we find against him?’
29
may well fear the sword on your own account. There is an anger stirred to flame by evil deeds; you will learn that there is indeed a judgement.
Chapters of Job
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
Home
Search
Readings
Settings