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 emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? 4 I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you. 5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: 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 filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face. 9 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. 10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me. 11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. 12 I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath 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 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 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 mine hands: also my prayer is pure. 18 O earth, cover not thou 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 mine eye poureth out tears unto God. 21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour! 22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
1 约伯回答说：
2 "像这样的话， 我听了很多； 你们都是叫人愁烦的安慰者。
3 虚空的言语， 有穷尽吗？或有什么惹你答个不休的呢？
4 你们若处在我的景况， 我也能像你们那样说话， 我也能砌辞攻击你们， 并且能向你们摇头。
5 我能用口鼓励你们， 我嘴唇的安慰， 能缓和你们的痛苦。
6 我若说话， 痛苦仍不消解， 我若闭口不说， 痛苦也不离开我。
7 现在 神使我困倦， ‘你蹂躏了我的全家，
8 又把我捆绑起来。’这就作为证据； 我身体的枯瘦也当面作证反对我。
9 他的怒气撕裂我， 攻击我； 他向我咬牙切齿， 我的敌人以锐利的眼光看着我。
10 他们向我大大张嘴， 以蔑视的态度打我的脸颊， 联合一起攻击我。
11 神把我交给不义的人， 把我丢在恶人的手中。
12 我本来安逸， 他却把我压碎； 掐着我的颈项， 把我摔碎； 又把我当作他的箭靶。
13 他的弓箭手四面包围我， 他剖开我的腰子， 全不顾惜， 把我的胆倾倒在地上。
14 他把我破伤， 在破口上又加破伤， 如勇士一般向我直冲。
15 我把麻布缝在我的皮肤上， 把我的角插入尘土中。
16 我的脸因哭泣而发红， 在我的眼皮上满是黑影。
17 然而在我的手中没有强暴， 我的祷告也是清洁的。
18 地啊， 不要遮盖我的血； 不要让我的哀求有停留的地方。
19 现今， 在天上有我的见证， 在高天之上， 有我的证人。
20 讥笑我的， 就是我的朋友， 我的眼向 神流泪。
21 但愿人可以为人与 神分辩， 正如世人为朋友辩白一样。
22 因为我的年数将尽， 我快要走上那条一去不返的路。"