1 T hen Job answered,

Then Job answered and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8 “ You have shriveled me up, It has become a witness; And my leanness rises up against me, It testifies 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 “ His anger has torn me and hunted me down, He has gnashed at me with His teeth; My adversary glares at 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 “ They have gaped at me with their mouth, They have slapped me on the cheek with contempt; They have massed themselves 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 “ God hands me over to ruffians And tosses me into the hands of the wicked.

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

12 “ 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.

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 “ His arrows surround me. Without mercy He splits my kidneys open; He pours out my gall on 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 “ He breaks through me with breach after breach; He runs at me like a warrior.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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