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1 Then Job answered and said,
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2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
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3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
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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.
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5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
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6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
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7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
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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.
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9 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
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10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.
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11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.
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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.
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13 His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
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14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.
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15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
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16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
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17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
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18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
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19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
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20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
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21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
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22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
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- 1 Then Job answered,
- 2 “I have heard many such things; Sorry comforters are you all.
- 3 “Is there no limit to windy words? Or what plagues you that you answer?
- 4 “I too could speak like you, If I were in your place. I could compose words against you And shake my head at you.
- 5 “I could strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips could lessen your pain.
- 6 “If I speak, my pain is not lessened, And if I hold back, what has left me?
- 7 “But now He has exhausted me; You have laid waste all my company.
- 8 “You have shriveled me up, It has become a witness; And my leanness rises up against me, It testifies to my face.
- 9 “His anger has torn me and hunted me down, He has gnashed at me with His teeth; My adversary glares at me.
- 10 “They have gaped at me with their mouth, They have slapped me on the cheek with contempt; They have massed themselves against me.
- 11 “God hands me over to ruffians And tosses me into the hands of the wicked.
- 12 “I was at ease, but He shattered me, And He has grasped me by the neck and shaken me to pieces; He has also set me up as His target.
- 13 “His arrows surround me. Without mercy He splits my kidneys open; He pours out my gall on the ground.
- 14 “He breaks through me with breach after breach; He runs at me like a warrior.
- 15 “I have sewed sackcloth over my skin And thrust my horn in the dust.
- 16 “My face is flushed from weeping, And deep darkness is on my eyelids,
- 17 Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.
- 18 “O earth, do not cover my blood, And let there be no resting place for my cry.
- 19 “Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And my advocate is on high.
- 20 “My friends are my scoffers; My eye weeps to God.
- 21 “O that a man might plead with God As a man with his neighbor!
- 22 “For when a few years are past, I shall go the way of no return.
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