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 you all!
3 Is there no end to windy words? What ails you that you answer thus?
4 I also could speak as you do, if your soul were in the place of my soul. I could heap up words against you, and shake my head at you.
5 But I would assure you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips would be restrained.
6 When I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I remain silent, how do I proceed?
7 But now He has exhausted me; you have devastated my company.
8 You have seized me as a witness; my deception rises up against me and testifies to my face.
9 He tears me in His wrath, and hates me; He gnashes at me with His teeth; my adversary sharpens His eyes at me.
10 They have gaped at me with their mouth, and struck me reproachfully on the cheek; they gather together against me.
11 The Mighty God has delivered me to the perverse, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, but He has shattered me; He also has taken hold on my neck, and dashed me to pieces; He has set me up for His target.
13 His archers surround me; He pierces my heart and does not pity; He pours out my gall on the ground.
14 He breaks me with break upon break; He runs at me like a mighty man.
15 I have sewn sackcloth over my skin, and have thrust my horn into the dust.
16 My face is flushed from weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 although no violence is in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, do not cover my blood, and let my cry have no resting place!
19 Even now, behold, my evidence is in Heaven, and my witness is on high.
20 My friends scorn me; my eyes pour out tears to God.
21 Oh, that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for the son of his friend!
22 For when the number of years have come, I shall go the way from which I shall not return.