He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, And taken the crown from my head. He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: 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; 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. And they whom I loved are turned against me. my teeth. For the hand of God hath touched me. Why do ye persecute me as God, That they were graven with an iron pen and lead For I know that my redeemer liveth, And that he shall stand at the latter day upon the And though after my skin worms destroy this body, Whom I shall see for myself, And mine eyes shall behold, and not another; For wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, That ye may know there is a judgment. Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, CHAPTER 20 Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, I have heard the check of my reproach, And the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer. Knowest thou not this of old, Since man was placed upon earth, That the triumphing of the wicked is short, Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: It is the gall of asps within him. He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly. He shall suck the poison of asps: The viper's tongue shall slay him. That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: According to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein. Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; Because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not; Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, Therefore shall no man look for his goods. In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, And the bow of steel shall strike him through. Yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: A fire not blown shall consume him: It shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle. And the earth shall rise up against him. The increase of his house shall depart, And his goods shall flow away in the day of his This is the portion of a wicked man from God, CHAPTER 21 But Job answered and said, Hear diligently my speech, And let this be your consolations. Suffer me that I may speak; And after that I have spoken, mock on. As for me, is my complaint to man? And if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled? Mark me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth. Even when I remember I am afraid, |