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¹ THEN Job answered and said,² How long will you grieve my soul, and make me sick with words?³ For behold, these ten times you have rebuked me; and yet you are not ashamed that you make me sad.⁴ If indeed I have erred, my error remains with myself.⁵ If you have justly magnified yourselves against me, rebuked me, and reproached me,⁶ Know then that God has condemned me, and spread his net over me.⁷ If I howl, no one answers me; and if I complain, there is no one to avenge me.

⁸ He has fenced up my ways so that I cannot pass, and he has set darkness in my paths.⁹ He has stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.¹⁰ He has destroyed me on every side, and I am no more; and my hope has he removed like a piece of tree.¹¹ He has also kindled his wrath against me, and he counts me as his enemy.¹² His messengers have come together against me; they debated their ways against me, and encamped round about my tent.¹³ My brothers are far off from me, and my acquaintances have deserted me.¹⁴ My kinsfolk have failed me, and my familiar friends have forsaken me.¹⁵ They that dwell in my house, and my maids, consider me as 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 and implored him.¹⁷ I have become a stranger to my wife, and have implored the children of my own body.¹⁸ Yea, even the wicked despise me; when I rise, they speak against me.¹⁹ All my counselors abhor me; even my friends have turned against me.²⁰ My skin and my flesh cleave to my bones, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.²¹ Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O you my friends; for the hand of God has been against me.²² Why do you also persecute me like God, and you are not satisfied with the hurt of my flesh?

²³ Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a scroll!²⁴ That they were engraved with an iron pen on lead or in the rock for ever!²⁵ For I know that my Saviour lives, and at the end he will reveal himself upon the earth;²⁶ Although devouring worms have covered my skin and my flesh,²⁷ Yet, if my eyes shall see God, then my heart also will see the light; but now my body is consumed.²⁸ For you will say, Why did we persecute him? For a good report will follow me and vindicate me.²⁹ Spare yourselves from the sword; for the wrath of sinners is a sword; for you shall yet know that there is judgment.