Job 19:21
Have pity on me, have pity on me, at least you my friends, because the hand of the Lord hath touched me.
Open Job 19:21 in the Motif Searcher, word by word across all five texts →Show on the spiral →The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Miseremini mei, miseremini mei saltem vos, amici mei, quia manus Domini tetigit me.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- ἐλεήσατέ με, ἐλεήσατέ με, ὦ φίλοι· χεὶρ γὰρ Κυρίου ἡ ἁψαμένη μού ἐστιν.
- Hebrew (WLC)
- חָנֻּ֬נִי חָנֻּ֣נִי אַתֶּ֣ם רֵעָ֑י כִּ֥י יַד אֱ֝ל֗וֹהַּ נָ֣גְעָה בִּֽי
The Fathers on this verse
St Ambrose On the Duties of the Clergy, Chapter XXII. Virtue must never be given up for the sake of a friend. If, however, one has to bear witness against a friend, it must be done with caution. Between friends what candour is needed in opening the heart, what magnanimity in suffering, what freedom in finding fault! Friendship is the guardian of virtues, which are not to be found but in men of like character. It must be mild in rebuking and averse to seeking its own advantage; whence it happens that true friends are scarce among the rich. What is the dignity of friendship? The treachery of a friend, as it is worse, so it is also more hateful than another's, as is recognized from the example of Judas and of Job's friends
130. How nobly Job when he was in adversity said: “Pity me, my friends, pity me.” That is not a cry as it were of misery, but rather one of blame. For when he was unjustly reproached by his friends, he answered: “Pity me, my friends,” that is, ye ought to show pity, but instead ye assail and overwhelm a man with whose sufferings ye ought to show sympathy for friendship’s sake.