[1] Then Job answered: [2] "How long will you hurt me and crush me with your words? [3] You have insulted me ten times now. You attack me without shame. [4] If I have sinned, it is my worry alone. [5] Maybe you want to make yourselves look better than I do so you can blame me for my suffering. [6] Then know that God has wronged me. He has pulled his net around me. [7] "I shout, 'I have been wronged!' But I get no answer. I call loudly for help, but I receive no justice. [8] God has blocked my way so I cannot pass. He has covered my paths with darkness. [9] He has taken away my honor. He has removed the crown from my head. [10] He beats me down on every side until I am gone. He pulls up my hope as a tree is pulled up by its roots. [11] His anger burns against me. And he treats me as one of his enemies. [12] His armies gather. They prepare a way to attack me. They camp around my tent. [13] "God has made my brothers my enemies. My friends have become complete strangers. [14] My relatives have gone away. My friends have forgotten me. [15] My guests and my women servants think of me as a stranger. They look at me as if I were a foreigner. [16] I call for my servant, but he does not answer. I even beg him with my own mouth. [17] My wife hates my breath. My own family hates me. [18] Even the little boys hate me. When I leave, they talk about me. [19] All my close friends hate me. Even those I love have turned against me. [20] I am nothing but skin and bones. I have escaped with only the skin of my teeth. [21] Pity me, my friends. Pity me! The hand of God has hit me. [22] Why do you chase me as God does? Haven't you had enough of hurting my body? [23] "How I wish my words were written down. I wish they were written on a scroll. [24] I wish they were carved with an iron pen into lead, or carved into stone forever! [25] I know that my Defender lives. And in the end he will come to show that I am right. [26] Even after my skin has been destroyed, in my flesh I will still see God. [27] I will see him myself. I myself will see him with my own eyes. How my heart wants that to happen! [28] "You may say, 'We will continue to trouble Job. The problem lies with him.' [29] But you should be afraid of the sword yourselves. God's anger will bring punishment by the sword. Then you will know that there is judgment."
