¹ Then Job answered and said,

^{2 Ref} How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?

^{3 Ref} These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.

^{4 Ref} And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.

^{5 Ref} If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:

^{6 Ref} Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.

^{7 Ref} Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.

^{8 Ref} He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.

^{9 Ref} He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.

^{10 Ref} He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.

^{11 Ref} He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.

^{12 Ref} His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.

^{13 Ref} He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.

^{14 Ref} My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.

^{15 Ref} They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.

^{16 Ref} I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.

^{17 Ref} My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body.

^{18 Ref} Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.

^{19 Ref} All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.

^{20 Ref} My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.

^{21 Ref} Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.

^{22 Ref} Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?

^{23 Ref} Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!

^{24 Ref} That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!

^{25 Ref} For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

^{26 Ref} And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

^{27 Ref} Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

^{28 Ref} But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?

^{29 Ref} Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.