1 T hen Job answered,

Then Job answered,

2 I have heard many such things; wearisome and miserable comforters are you all!

“I have heard many such things; Sorry comforters are you all.

3 W ill your futile words of wind have no end? Or what makes you so bold to answer ?

“Is there no limit to windy words? Or what plagues you that you answer?

4 I also could speak as you do, if you were in my stead; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you.

“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 would strengthen and encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would soothe your suffering.

“I could strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips could lessen your pain. Job Says God Shattered Him

6 I f I speak, my sorrow is not soothed or lessened; and if I refrain, in what way am I eased?

“If I speak, my pain is not lessened, And if I hold back, what has left me?

7 B ut now has taken away my strength. You have made desolate all my family and associates.

“But now He has exhausted me; You have laid waste all my company.

8 Y ou have laid firm hold on me and have shriveled me up, which is a witness against me; and my leanness are further evidence; testify to my face.

“You have shriveled me up, It has become a witness; And my leanness rises up against me, It testifies to my face.

9 ' > My adversary Satan] has torn in his wrath and hated and persecuted me; he has gnashed upon me with his teeth; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.

“His anger has torn me and hunted me down, He has gnashed at me with His teeth; My adversary glares at me.

10 h ave gaped at me with their mouths; they have struck me upon the cheek insolently; they massed themselves together and conspired unanimously against me.

“They have gaped at me with their mouth, They have slapped me on the cheek with contempt; They have massed themselves against me.

11 G od has delivered me to the ungodly (to the evil one) and cast me into the hands of the wicked (Satan’s host).

“God hands me over to ruffians And tosses me into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was living at ease, but crushed me and broke me apart; yes, he seized me by the neck and dashed me in pieces; then he set me up for his target.

“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 a rrows whiz around me. He slashes open my vitals and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.

“His arrows surround me. Without mercy He splits my kidneys open; He pours out my gall on the ground.

14 s tabs me, making breach after breach and attacking again and again; he runs at me like a giant and irresistible warrior.

“He breaks through me with breach after breach; He runs at me like a warrior.

15 I have sewed sackcloth over my skin and have defiled my horn (my insignia of strength) in the dust.

“I have sewed sackcloth over my skin And thrust my horn in the dust.

16 M y face is red and swollen with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death,

“My face is flushed from weeping, And deep darkness is on my eyelids,

17 A lthough there is no guilt or violence in my hands and my prayer is pure.

Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.

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

“O earth, do not cover my blood, And let there be no resting place for my cry.

19 E ven now, behold, my Witness is in heaven, and He who vouches for me is on high.

“Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And my advocate is on high.

20 M y friends scorn me, but my eye pours out tears to God.

“My friends are my scoffers; My eye weeps to God.

21 O h, that there might be one who would plead for a man with God and that he would maintain his right with Him, as a son of man pleads with or for his neighbor!

“O that a man might plead with God As a man with his neighbor!

22 F or when a few years are come, I shall go the way from which I shall not return.

“For when a few years are past, I shall go the way of no return.