1 ¶ Then Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said,

2 M any times I have heard such things; miserable comforters are ye all.

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

3 S hall vain words have an end? Or what is it that emboldens thee to answer?

Shall vain words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

4 I also could speak as ye do. I wish your soul were in my soul’s stead, that I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.

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.

5 B ut I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would assuage the pain.

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

6 ¶ Though if I speak, my pain does not cease; and if I forbear to speak, it does not depart from me.

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

7 B ut now he has made me weary; thou hast made desolate all my company.

But now he hath made me weary: Thou hast made desolate all my company.

8 A nd thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me bears witness to my face.

And 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.

9 H is wrath has torn me and has been against me; he gnashed upon me with his teeth; my enemy sharpened his eyes upon me.

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

10 T hey have opened their mouth against me; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

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

11 G od has delivered me unto the liar, and in the hands of the wicked he has caused me to tremble.

God delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was prosperous, but he has broken me asunder; he has taken me by my neck and shaken me to pieces and set me up for his mark.

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.

13 H is archers compassed me round about; he cleaved my kidneys asunder and did not spare; he poured out my gall upon the ground.

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

14 H e broke me with breach upon breach; he ran upon me like a giant.

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

15 I have sewn sackcloth upon my skin and put dust over my head.

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

16 M y face is foul 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 ¶ even though there is no injustice in my hands, and my prayer has been pure.

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 place where my cry is hidden.

O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have no resting -place.

19 C ertainly my witness is even now in the heavens, and my record is on high.

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

20 T hose who dispute with me are my friends, but my eyes shall pour out tears unto God.

My friends scoff at me: But mine eye poureth out tears unto God,

21 O that a man might dispute with God, as he can with his neighbour!

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

22 W hen the counted years are come, then I shall go the way from which I shall not return.

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