1 T hen Job answered,

Then Job answered and said,

2 “ I have heard many such things. All of you bring trouble instead of comfort.

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

3 I s there no end to your words that are full of wind? What is your problem that you keep on talking?

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

4 I also could speak like you, if I were in your place. I could put words together 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 give you strength with my mouth. I could speak words of comfort and make your pain less.

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 made less. And if I keep quiet, it does not leave me.

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

7 B ut now God has taken away my strength. He has taken away all my family.

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

8 H e has made me dry up, and this speaks against me. The wasting away of my body rises up against me. It speaks against me 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 anger has torn me and hated me. He has ground His teeth at me. The one against me looks hard 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 M en have looked at me with their mouths open. They have hit me on the face with anger. They have gathered 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 gives me over to bad men. He throws me into the hands of the sinful.

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

12 I was living in comfort, but He has taken that away. He has taken hold of me by the neck and shaken me to pieces. He has set me up for something to shoot at.

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 arrows are all around me. He cuts my kidneys open without pity. He pours the bitter insides 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 hurts me again and again. He runs at me like a man of war.

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

15 I have sewed cloth made from hair over my skin, and have laid my hope in the dust.

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

16 M y face is red from crying, and darkness is over my eyes.

My face is red with weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

17 B ut my hands have done nothing bad, 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. Let my cry have no place to rest.

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

19 S ee, even now there is One Who sees me from heaven. The One Who speaks for me is on high.

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

20 M y friends make fun of me. My eyes pour out tears to God.

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

21 I f only a man could give reasons to God, as a man does for his neighbor!

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

22 I n a few years I will go the way that I cannot return.

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