[1] And Job made answer and said, [2] How long will you make my life
bitter, crushing me with words? [3] Ten times now you have made sport of
me; it gives you no sense of shame to do me wrong. [4] And, truly, if I
have been in error, the effect of my error is only on myself. [5] If you
make yourselves great against me, using my punishment as an argument
against me, [6] Be certain that it is God who has done me wrong, and has
taken me in his net. [7] Truly, I make an outcry against the violent man,
but there is no answer: I give a cry for help, but no one takes up my
cause. [8] My way is walled up by him so that I may not go by: he has made
my roads dark. [9] He has put off my glory from me, and taken the crown
from my head. [10] I am broken down by him on every side, and I am gone; my
hope is uprooted like a tree. [11] His wrath is burning against me, and I
am to him as one of his haters. [12] His armies come on together, they make
their road high against me, and put up their tents round mine. [13] He has
taken my brothers far away from me; they have seen my fate and have become
strange to me. [14] My relations and my near friends have given me up, and
those living in my house have put me out of their minds. [15] I am strange
to my women-servants, and seem to them as one from another country. [16] At
my cry my servant gives me no answer, and I have to make a prayer to him.
[17] My breath is strange to my wife, and I am disgusting to the offspring
of my mother's body. [18] Even young children have no respect for me; when
I get up their backs are turned on me. [19] All the men of my circle keep
away from me; and those dear to me are turned against me. [20] My bones are
joined to my skin, and I have got away with my flesh in my teeth. [21] Have
pity on me, have pity on me, O my friends! for the hand of God is on me.
[22] Why are you cruel to me, like God, for ever saying evil against me?
[23] If only my words might be recorded! if they might be put in writing in
a book! [24] And with an iron pen and lead be cut into the rock for ever!
[25] But I am certain that he who will take up my cause is living, and that
in time to come he will take his place on the dust; [26] And ... without my
flesh I will see God; [27] Whom I will see on my side, and not as one
strange to me. My heart is broken with desire. [28] If you say, How cruel
we will be to him! because the root of sin is clearly in him: [29] Be in
fear of the sword, for the sword is the punishment for such things, so that
you may be certain that there is a judge.