1 Then Job answered and said,

2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are you all.

3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldens you that you answer?

4 I also could speak as you do: if your soul were in my soul' stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake my head at you.

5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief.

6 Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?

7 But now he has made me weary: you have made desolate all my company.

8 And you have filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me bears witness to my face.

9 He tears me in his wrath, who hates me: he gnashes on me with his teeth; my enemy sharpens his eyes on me.

10 They have gaped on me with their mouth; they have smitten me on the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

11 God has delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, but he has broken me asunder: he has also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

13 His archers compass me round about, he splits my reins asunder, and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.

14 He breaks me with breach on breach, he runs on me like a giant.

15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.

16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

17 Not for any injustice in my hands: also my prayer is pure.

18 O earth, cover not you my blood, and let my cry have no place.

19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.

20 My friends scorn me: but my eye pours out tears to God.

21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor!

22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way from where I shall not return.

1 Then Job answered and said,

2 I have heard many such things:

Miserable comforters are ye all.

3 Shall vain words have an end?

Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

4 I also could speak as ye do;

If your soul were in my soul’s stead,

I could join words together against you,

And shake my head at you.

5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth,

And the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.

6 Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged;

And though I forbear, what am I eased?

7 But now he hath made me weary:

Thou hast made desolate all my company.

8 And thou hast laid fast hold on me, which is a witness against me:

And my leanness riseth up against me,

It testifieth to my face.

9 He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me;

He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth:

Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth;

They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully:

They gather themselves together against me.

11 God delivereth me to the ungodly,

And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, and he brake me asunder;

Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces:

He hath also set me up for his mark.

13 His archers compass me round about;

He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare;

He poureth out my gall upon the ground.

14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach;

He runneth upon me like a giant.

15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin,

And have laid my horn in the dust.

16 My face is red with weeping,

And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

17 Although there is no violence in my hands,

And my prayer is pure.

18 O earth, cover not thou my blood,

And let my cry have no resting-place.

19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven,

And he that voucheth for me is on high.

20 My friends scoff at me:

But mine eye poureth out tears unto God,

21 That he would maintain the right of a man with God,

And of a son of man with his neighbor!

22 For when a few years are come,

I shall go the way whence I shall not return.