XIX. 1909-14. The Book of Job. The Harvard Classics

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The Book of Job.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

XIX


[1]	THEN Job answered and said,
[2]	How long will ye vex my soul, And break me in pieces with words?
[3]	These ten times have ye reproached me: Ye are not ashamed that ye deal hardly with me.
[4]	And be it indeed that I have erred, Mine error remaineth with myself.
[5]	If 1 indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, And plead against me my reproach;
[6]	Know now that God hath subverted 2 me in my cause, And hath compassed me with his net.

[7]	Behold, I cry 3 out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry for help, but there is no justice.
[8]	He hath walled 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 4 in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am 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 strange to my wife, And my 5 supplication to the children of 6 mine own mother.
[18]	Even young children despise me; If I arise, they speak against me.
[19]	All my 7 familiar 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 8 as for me I know that my Redeemer 9 liveth, And at last he will stand up upon the earth: 10
[26]	And 11 after my skin, even this body, is destroyed, Then without my flesh shall I see God;
[27]	Whom I, even I, shall see, on 12 my side, And mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger. My heart 13 is consumed within me.
[28]	If ye say, How we will persecute him! And that the root of the matter is found in me;
[29]	Be ye afraid of the sword: For wrath 14 bringeth the punishments of the sword, That ye may know there is a judgment.

Note 1. Or, Will ye indeed … reproach? [back]

Note 2. Or, overthrown me. [back]

Note 3. Or, cry out, Violence! [back]

Note 4. Or, sojourn. [back]

Note 5. Or, I make supplication.Or, I am loathsome. [back]

Note 6. Or, of my body. [back]

Note 7. Heb. the men of my council. [back]

Note 8. Or, For. [back]

Note 9. Or, vindicator.Heb. goel. [back]

Note 10. Heb. dust. [back]

Note 11. Or, And after my skin hath been thus destroyed, Yet from my flesh shall I see God. [back]

Note 12. Or, for myself. [back]

Note 13. Heb. reins. [back]

Note 14. Or, wrathful are. [back]

CONTENTS · BOOK CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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