Job: My Redeemer Lives

1Iob aunswered, and saide:

2How long wyll ye vexe my soule, and trouble me with wordes?

3Lo, ten times haue ye reproched me, and are not ashamed, but haue laughed me to scorne.

4Be it that I haue erred in deede, myne errour then remaineth with my selfe.

5But if ye wyll aduaunce your selues against me, and rebuke me for the shame that is come vpon me:

6Know this then, that it is God which hath ouerthrowe me, and hath compassed me with his net.

7If I complaine of the violence that is done vnto me, I cannot be heard: and if I crye, there is no sentence geuen with me.

8He hath hedged vp my way that I can not passe, and he hath set darkenesse in my pathes.

9He hath spoyled me of myne honour, and taken the crowne away from my head.

10He hath destroyed me on euery side and I am gone: my hope hath he taken away as a tree pluckt vp by the roote.

11His wrath is kindled against me, he taketh me as though I were his enemie.

12His men of warre come together, which made their way ouer me, and besieged my dwelling rounde about.

13He hath put my brethren farre away from me, and myne acquaintaunce are also become straungers vnto me.

14Myne owne kinsefolkes haue forsaken me, and my best acquainted haue forgotten me.

15The seruauntes and maydens of myne owne house toke me for a straunger, and I am become as an aliaunt in their sight.

16I called my seruaunt, and he gaue me no aunswere: no though I prayed him with my mouth.

17Myne owne wyfe might not abyde my breath, though I prayed her for the children sake of myne owne body.

18Yea, the young men despised me, and when I rose they spake euill vpon me.

19All my most familiers abhorred me: and they whom I loued best, are turned against me.

20My bone cleaueth to my skinne and to my fleshe, onely there is left me the skinne about my teeth.

21Haue pitie vpon me, haue pitie vpon me, O ye my friendes, for the hande of God hath touched me.

22Why do ye persecute me as God doth and are not satisfied with my fleshe?

23O that my wordes were now written, O that they were put in a booke,

24And grauen with an iron penne in leade, or in stone, to continue.

25For I am sure that my redeemer saueth, and he shall rayse vp at the latter day them that lye in the dust.

26And though after my skinne the wormes destroy this body, yet shall I see God in my fleshe:

27Whom I my selfe shall see, and myne eyes shall beholde, and none other for me, though my raines are consumed within me.

28But ye saide, why is he persecuted? and there was a deepe matter in me.

29But beware of the sworde: for the sword wylbe auenged of wickednesse, and be sure that there is a iudgement.