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.”