With a typical lament, Job is asking: “How long?” He clearly states that God is treating him unjustly (6), recalling the times when God acted this way toward him (7-14). Not only has God abandoned him, but also his friends and family (13-22). He feels alone and ashamed, close to death, clinging to the last hope to prove his innocence (23-29). He desires his declaration of innocence to be etched in stone so it can speak for him after his death (23f). Then, in verses 25-27, he seeks another form of vindication. This is one of the most well-known and challenging passages in the book (25). The “defender”—similar to our “Ombudsman”—was an office in tribal society tasked with defending and protecting the weakest members of the family. Although the functions of the defender varied (cf. Lv 25:23f; 47-55; Dt 25:5-10; Ruth 4:1-6), their primary duty was to preserve the unity of the family or tribe. Who is this defender? Some interpret it as God; others, more convincingly, see it as a third party who, alongside Job, can stand up to the one who acts as judge, accuser, and executioner—namely, God. But when will this happen? Job clings to the hope of a last-minute rescue while he is still alive, which is his heartfelt desire (26b). He concludes with a warning and a prophecy: those who continue to condemn him will ultimately face judgment themselves (28f; cf. 42:7-9).