13 He has removed my brothers from me;
my acquaintances have abandoned me.(A)
14 My relatives stop coming by,
and my close friends have forgotten me.
15 My house guests[a] and female servants regard me as a stranger;
I am a foreigner in their sight.(B)
16 I call for my servant, but he does not answer,
even if I beg him with my own mouth.
17 My breath is offensive to my wife,
and my own family[b] finds me repulsive.
18 Even young boys scorn me.
When I stand up, they mock me.(C)
19 All of my best friends[c] despise me,(D)
and those I love have turned against me.(E)
20 My skin and my flesh cling to my bones;
I have escaped with only the skin of my teeth.

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Footnotes

  1. 19:15 Or The resident aliens in my household
  2. 19:17 Lit and the sons of my belly
  3. 19:19 Lit of the men of my council

Social ostracism

13 He has distanced my family from me;
    my acquaintances are also alienated from me.
14 My visitors have ceased;
    those who know me have forgotten me.
15 My guests and female servants think me a stranger;
    I’m a foreigner in their sight.
16 I call my servant, and he doesn’t answer;
    I myself must beg him.
17 My breath stinks to my wife;
    I am odious to my children.
18 Even the young despise me;
    I get up, and they rail against me.
19 All my closest friends despise me;
    the ones I have loved turn against me.

Misery

20 My bones cling to my skin and flesh;
    I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.

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