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19 Then Iyov answered and said,

How long will ye torment my nefesh, and crush me with words?

These ten times have ye reproached me; ye have no bushah that ye cause me astonishment.

And be it indeed that I have erred, mine meshugah (error) remaineth with myself.

If indeed ye will magnify yourselves above me, and use against me my cherpah (reproach, humiliation),

Have da’as now that Eloah hath put me in the wrong, and hath encompassed me with his matzud (net).

Behold, when I cry chamas, I am not heard; I cry for help, but there is no mishpat.

He hath fenced around my way that I cannot pass, and set choshech in my paths.

He hath stripped me of my kavod, and taken the ateret from my rosh.

10 He breaks me down on every side till I am gone, and mine tikveh hath He uprooted like an etz.

11 He hath also kindled His wrath against me, and He counteth me unto Him as His tzar (enemy).

12 His forces come together, and raise up their seige ramp against me, and encamp around my ohel.

13 He hath put achai (my brethren) far from me, and mine acquaintances are verily estranged from me.

14 My kerov (near and dear) have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.

15 They that dwell in mine bais, and my maidservants, count me for a zar; I am a nokhri in their sight.

16 I summoned avdi, and he gave me no answer; I entreated him with my mouth.

17 My ruach is repulsive to my isha, loathsome to bnei beten of mine.

18 Even avilim (little children) treat me with contempt; I appear, and they ridicule me.

19 All my metei sod (confidants) detest me, and they whom I loved are turned against me.

20 My etzem cleaveth to my ohr (skin) and to my basar, and I am escaped only by the skin of my teeth.

21 Chanuni, chanuni, O ye my friends; for the yad Eloah hath touched me.

22 Why do ye persecute me like El, not satisfied with my basar?

23 Oh that my words were but written! O that they were recorded in a sefer!

24 That they were engraved with a pen of barzel and with oferet (lead) in the tzur forever!

25 For Ani yadati Goeli chai (I know that my Redeemer liveth), and that he shall stand up at Acharon (at the Last) upon aphar (dust, the earth);

26 And though after my ohr (skin) has been thus destroyed, yet from my basar I shall see Eloah;

27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold and no other; my heart faints within me.

28 But ye think, How we will persecute him, seeing the shoresh (root) of the matter is found in me?

29 Be ye afraid of the cherev; for wrath bringeth the avonot (punishments) of the cherev, that ye may know there is a judgment.

Job

19 Then Job replied:

“How long will you torment(A) me
    and crush(B) me with words?
Ten times(C) now you have reproached(D) me;
    shamelessly you attack me.
If it is true that I have gone astray,
    my error(E) remains my concern alone.
If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me(F)
    and use my humiliation against me,
then know that God has wronged me(G)
    and drawn his net(H) around me.(I)

“Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response;(J)
    though I call for help,(K) there is no justice.(L)
He has blocked my way so I cannot pass;(M)
    he has shrouded my paths in darkness.(N)
He has stripped(O) me of my honor(P)
    and removed the crown from my head.(Q)
10 He tears me down(R) on every side till I am gone;
    he uproots my hope(S) like a tree.(T)
11 His anger(U) burns against me;
    he counts me among his enemies.(V)
12 His troops advance in force;(W)
    they build a siege ramp(X) against me
    and encamp around my tent.(Y)

13 “He has alienated my family(Z) from me;
    my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.(AA)
14 My relatives have gone away;
    my closest friends(AB) have forgotten me.
15 My guests(AC) and my female servants(AD) count me a foreigner;
    they look on me as on a stranger.
16 I summon my servant, but he does not answer,
    though I beg him with my own mouth.
17 My breath is offensive to my wife;
    I am loathsome(AE) to my own family.
18 Even the little boys(AF) scorn me;
    when I appear, they ridicule me.(AG)
19 All my intimate friends(AH) detest me;(AI)
    those I love have turned against me.(AJ)
20 I am nothing but skin and bones;(AK)
    I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.[a]

21 “Have pity on me, my friends,(AL) have pity,
    for the hand of God has struck(AM) me.
22 Why do you pursue(AN) me as God does?(AO)
    Will you never get enough of my flesh?(AP)

23 “Oh, that my words were recorded,
    that they were written on a scroll,(AQ)
24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool(AR) on[b] lead,
    or engraved in rock forever!(AS)
25 I know that my redeemer[c](AT) lives,(AU)
    and that in the end he will stand on the earth.[d]
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
    yet[e] in[f] my flesh I will see God;(AV)
27 I myself will see him
    with my own eyes(AW)—I, and not another.
    How my heart yearns(AX) within me!

28 “If you say, ‘How we will hound(AY) him,
    since the root of the trouble lies in him,[g]
29 you should fear the sword yourselves;
    for wrath will bring punishment by the sword,(AZ)
    and then you will know that there is judgment.[h](BA)

Footnotes

  1. Job 19:20 Or only by my gums
  2. Job 19:24 Or and
  3. Job 19:25 Or vindicator
  4. Job 19:25 Or on my grave
  5. Job 19:26 Or And after I awake, / though this body has been destroyed, / then
  6. Job 19:26 Or destroyed, / apart from
  7. Job 19:28 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts me
  8. Job 19:29 Or sword, / that you may come to know the Almighty