Job 19

1 In response, Job said:ISV — Job 19:1

2 “How long do you intend to keep torturing me and trying to break me by what you’re saying?ISV — Job 19:2

3 Ten times you’ve tried to humiliate me! You’re not ashamed to wrong me!ISV — Job 19:3

4 Even if it’s true that I’ve erred, my error only affects me.ISV — Job 19:4

5 If you really intend to vaunt yourselves over me, and make my problems the basis of your case against me,ISV — Job 19:5

6 then at least you must know that God has accused me of wrong, and trapped me with his net.”ISV — Job 19:6

7 “Although I cried out ‘Violence!’ I received no answer; I cried for help, but there was no justice.ISV — Job 19:7

8 He blocked my path, so I cannot pass; and he turned out the lights on my pathways.ISV — Job 19:8

9 “He has stripped me of my honor; he has stolen the crown off my head!ISV — Job 19:9

10 He is breaking me down on every side, and now it’s too late for me; ^{a19:10 Lit. and I’m gone} he has uprooted my hopes like a tree.ISV — Job 19:10

11 His anger burns against me; he regards me as his adversary.ISV — Job 19:11

12 His troops march ^{b19:12 Or proceed} in a column ^{c19:12 Or together} against me, erecting their siege ramps against me; they surround my tent.”ISV — Job 19:12

13 “My brothers are alienated from me; my acquaintances are estranged;ISV — Job 19:13

14 my relatives have failed me; and my friends ^{d19:14 Lit. and those who know me} have abandoned me.ISV — Job 19:14

15 Those who live in my house— and my maidservants, too!— treat me like a stranger; they think I’m a foreigner.ISV — Job 19:15

16 “I call to my servant, but he doesn’t respond, even though I beg to him earnestly. ^{e19:16 Lit. him with my mouth}ISV — Job 19:16

17 My wife says my breath stinks; even my children say I smell bad!ISV — Job 19:17

18 Even little children hate me; when I get up, they mock me.ISV — Job 19:18

19 My closest friends ^{f19:19 Or circle of familiar friends} detest me; even the ones I love have turned against me.ISV — Job 19:19

20 I’m a pile of skin and bones; I have barely escaped by the skin of my teeth.”ISV — Job 19:20

21 “Be gracious to me, be gracious to me, my friends, because God’s hand has struck me.ISV — Job 19:21

22 Why are you chasing me, as God has been doing? Aren’t you satisfied that I’m sick? ^{g19:22 Lit. satisfied with my flesh}ISV — Job 19:22

23 If only my words were written down; if only they were inscribed in a bookISV — Job 19:23

24 using an iron stylus with lead for ink! Then they’d be engraved in rock forever.ISV — Job 19:24

25 “As for me, I know that my Vindicator ^{h19:25 Or Redeemer} is alive; And he, the Last One, ^{i19:25 Lit. And the Last} will take his stand on the soil. ^{j19:25 Or dust}ISV — Job 19:25

26 Even after my skin has been destroyed, clothed in my flesh I will see God,ISV — Job 19:26

27 whom I will see for myself. My own eyes will look at him— there won’t be anyone else for me!— He is the culmination of my innermost desire.”ISV — Job 19:27

28 “When you’re thinking about asking yourselves, ‘How will we pursue him, since the root of the problem is with him?’ ^{k19:28 Lit me}ISV — Job 19:28

29 Make sure that you remain wary of God’s sword, for God’s wrath brings with it the sword of punishment, by which you’ll know there’s a judgment.”ISV — Job 19:29