1 Then Job answered and said,
2 I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are all of you{+}.
3 Will vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
4 I also could speak as you{+} 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 has made me weary: You have made desolate all my company.
8 And you have shriveled me up, [which] is a witness [against me]: And my leanness rises up against me, It testifies to my face.
9 He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He has gnashed on me with his teeth: My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.
10 They have gaped on me with their mouth; They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully: They gather themselves together against me.
11 God delivers me to the ungodly, And casts me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart; Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He has also set me up for his mark.
13 His archers circle me round about; He splits my reins apart, 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 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, do not cover my blood, And let my cry have no [resting]-place.
19 Even now, look, my witness is in heaven, And he who vouches for me is on high.
20 My companions scoff at me: [But] my eye pours out tears to God,
21 That he would maintain the right of a [noble] man with God, And of a son of man with his fellow man!
22 For when a few years have come, I will go the way from where I will not return.