1 T hen Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said:

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

“I have heard many such things; Miserable comforters are you 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 provokes 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 also could speak as you do, If your soul were in my soul’s place. I could heap up 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.

But I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the comfort of my lips would relieve your grief.

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

“Though I speak, my grief is not relieved; And if I remain silent, how am I eased?

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

But now He has worn me out; You have made desolate 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, And it is a witness against me; My leanness rises up against me And bears 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.

He tears me in His wrath, and hates me; He gnashes at me with His teeth; My adversary sharpens His gaze on 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 at me with their mouth, They strike me reproachfully on the cheek, They gather together against me.

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

God has delivered me to the ungodly, And turned me over to 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 has shattered me; He also has taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces; He has set me up for 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 archers surround me. He pierces my heart and does not pity; 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 me with wound upon wound; 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 sewn sackcloth over my skin, And laid my head 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 on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

17 A lthough there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.

Although no violence is 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 my cry have no resting place!

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

Surely even now my witness is in heaven, And my evidence is on high.

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

My friends scorn me; My eyes pour out tears to 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 one might plead for a man with God, As a man pleads for 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 finished, I shall go the way of no return.