Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.
Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, my friends, because God's hand has struck me.
Job is pleading with his friends to show him compassion because he believes God has brought this suffering upon him.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Job, which is part of the Old Testament wisdom literature, Job is depicted as a righteous man enduring severe trials orchestrated by Satan with God's permission to test his faith. His friends, who initially came to comfort him, have instead spent much time accusing him of secret sins as the cause of his suffering, leading to heated debates. In Job 19:21, Job pleads with these friends for mercy, expressing his belief that God has directly inflicted his afflictions.
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