1 T hen Job answered and said,

Then Job answered,

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

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

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

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

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 too could speak like you, If I were in your place. I could compose 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 could strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips could lessen your pain. Job Says God Shattered Him

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 lessened, And if I hold back, what has left me?

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

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

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.

“You have shriveled me up, It has become a witness; And my leanness rises up against me, It testifies 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 has torn me and hunted me down, He has gnashed at me with His teeth; My adversary glares 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 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 delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.

“God hands me over to ruffians And tosses 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 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 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 surround me. Without mercy He splits my kidneys open; He pours out my gall on the ground.

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

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

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

“I have sewed sackcloth over my skin And thrust 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 flushed from weeping, And deep darkness is on my eyelids,

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, 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 that voucheth for me is on high.

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

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

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

21 T hat he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with 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 whence I shall not return.

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