How long will ye vex my soul
, and break
me in pieces with words
?
These ten times
have ye reproached
me: ye are not ashamed
that ye make yourselves strange
to me.
And be it indeed that I have erred
, mine error
remaineth
with myself.
If indeed ye will magnify
yourselves against me, and plead
against me my reproach
:
Know now
that God
hath overthrown
me, and hath compassed
me with his net
.
Behold, I cry out of wrong
, but I am not heard
: I cry aloud
, but there is no judgment
.
He hath fenced up my way
that I cannot pass
, and he hath set
darkness
in my paths
.
He hath stripped me of my glory
, and taken
the crown
from my head
.
He hath destroyed me on every side
, and I am gone
: and mine hope
hath he removed
like a tree
.
He hath also kindled his wrath
against me, and he counteth
me unto him as one of his enemies
.
His troops come
together
, and raise up
their way
against me, and encamp
round about
my tabernacle
.
He hath put my brethren
far
from me, and mine acquaintance
are verily estranged
from me.
My kinsfolk have failed
, and my familiar friends
have forgotten
me.
They that dwell in mine house
, and my maids
, count
me for a stranger
: I am an alien
in their sight
.
I called my servant
, and he gave me no answer
; I intreated
him with
my mouth
.
My breath is strange
to my wife
, though I intreated
for the children's
sake of mine own body
.
Yea, young children despised
me; I arose
, and they spake
against me.
All my inward friends
abhorred
me: and they whom I loved
are turned
against me.
My bone cleaveth
to my skin
and to my flesh
, and I am escaped
with the skin
of my teeth
.
Have pity upon me, have pity
upon me, O ye my friends
; for the hand
of God
hath touched
me.
Why do ye persecute me as God
, and are not satisfied
with my flesh
?
Oh that my words
were now
written
! oh that
they were printed
in a book
!
That they were graven with an iron
pen
and lead
in the rock
for ever
!
For I know that my redeemer
liveth
, and that he shall stand
at the latter
day upon the earth
:
And though after my skin
worms destroy
this body , yet in my flesh
shall I see
God
:
Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes
shall behold
, and not another
; though my reins
be consumed
within
me.
But ye should say, Why persecute
we him, seeing the root
of the matter
is found
in me?
Be ye afraid of the sword
: for wrath
bringeth the punishments
of
the sword
, that ye may know
there is a judgment
.