1 T hen Job answered and said,

And Job answered and said,

2 I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all.

I have heard many such things: grievous comforters are ye all.

3 S hall vain words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

4 I also could speak as ye do; If your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join words together against you, And shake my head at you.

I also could speak as ye: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join together words against you, and shake my head at you;

5 B ut I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.

I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage.

6 T hough I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And though I forbear, what am I eased?

If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if I forbear, what am I eased?

7 B ut now he hath made me weary: Thou hast made desolate all my company.

But now he hath made me weary; … thou hast made desolate all my family;

8 A nd thou hast laid fast hold on me, which is a witness against me: And my leanness riseth up against me, It testifieth to my face.

Thou hast shrivelled me up! it is become a witness; and my leanness riseth up against me, it beareth witness to my face.

9 H e hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth: Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

His anger teareth and pursueth me; he gnasheth with his teeth against me; mine adversary he sharpeneth his eyes at me.

10 T hey have gaped upon me with their mouth; They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully: They gather themselves together against me.

They gape upon me with their mouth; they smite my cheeks reproachfully; they range themselves together against me.

11 G od delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.

God hath delivered me over to the iniquitous man, and hurled me into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, and he brake me asunder; Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He hath also set me up for his mark.

I was at rest, but he hath shattered me; he hath taken me by the neck and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

13 H is archers compass me round about; He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.

His arrows encompass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

14 H e breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.

He breaketh me with breach upon breach; he runneth upon me like a mighty man.

15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And have laid my horn in the dust.

I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and rolled my horn in the dust.

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

My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

17 A lthough there is no 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 thou my blood, And let my cry have no resting -place.

O earth, cover not my blood, and let there be no place for my cry!

19 E ven now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he that voucheth for me is on high.

Even now, behold, my Witness is in the heavens, and he that voucheth for me is in the heights.

20 M y friends scoff at me: But mine eye poureth out tears unto God,

My friends are my mockers; mine eye poureth out tears unto +God.

21 T hat he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor!

Oh that there were arbitration for a man with +God, as a son of man for his friend!

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

For years in number shall pass,—and I shall go the way I shall not return.