1 T hen Job answered and said:

Then Job answered and said,

2 “ I have heard many such things; Miserable comforters are you all!

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

3 S hall words of wind have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?

Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

4 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;

I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.

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

But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

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

Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?

7 B ut now He has worn me out; You have made desolate all my company.

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

8 Y ou have shriveled me up, And it is a witness against me; My leanness rises up against me And bears witness to my face.

And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.

9 H e tears me in His wrath, and hates me; He gnashes at me with His teeth; My adversary sharpens His gaze on me.

He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

10 T hey gape at me with their mouth, They strike me reproachfully on the cheek, They gather together against me.

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

11 G od has delivered me to the ungodly, And turned me over to the hands of the wicked.

God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

12 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,

I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

13 H is archers surround me. He pierces my heart and does not pity; 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 H e breaks me with wound upon wound; He runs at me like a warrior.

He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.

15 “ I have sewn sackcloth over my skin, And laid my head in the dust.

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

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

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

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

Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.

18 “ O earth, do not cover my blood, And let my cry have no resting place!

O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.

19 S urely even now my witness is in heaven, And my evidence is on high.

Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.

20 M y friends scorn me; My eyes pour out tears to God.

My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

21 O h, that one might plead for a man with God, As a man pleads for his neighbor!

O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

22 F or when a few years are finished, I shall go the way of no return.

When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.