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.
²¹ Have mercy on me, my friends,^(F) have mercy,
for God’s hand^(G) has struck me.^(H)
22 Why do you persecute me as God does?
Will you never get enough of my flesh?

¹¹ I am ridiculed by all my adversaries
and even by my neighbors.
I am dreaded by my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street run from me.^(A)