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¹ Then Job answered and said:² How long will ye vex my soul, and crush me with words?³ These ten times have ye reproached me; ye are not ashamed that ye deal harshly with me.⁴ And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.⁵ If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach;⁶ Know now that God hath subverted my cause, and hath compassed me with His net.⁷ Behold, I cry out: 'Violence!' but I am not heard; I cry aloud, but there is no justice.

⁸ He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and hath set darkness in my paths.⁹ He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.¹⁰ He hath broken me down on every side, and I am gone; and my hope hath He plucked up like a tree.¹¹ He hath also kindled His wrath against me, and He counteth me unto Him as one of His adversaries.¹² His troops come on together, and cast up their way against me, and encamp round about my tent.¹³ He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are wholly estranged from me.¹⁴ My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.¹⁵ They that dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger; I am become an alien in their sight.¹⁶ I call unto my servant, and he giveth me no answer, though I entreat him with my mouth.¹⁷ My breath is abhorred of my wife, and I am loathsome to the children of my tribe.¹⁸ Even urchins despised me; if I arise, they speak against me.¹⁹ All my intimate friends abhor 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.²¹ Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.²² Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?

²³ Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!²⁴ That with an iron pen and lead they were graven in the rock for ever!²⁵ But as for me, I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He will witness at the last upon the dust;²⁶ And when after my skin this is destroyed, then without my flesh shall I see God;²⁷ Whom I, even I, shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another's. My reins are consumed within me.²⁸ If ye say: 'How we will persecute him!' seeing that 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.