1 T hen Job answered,

Then Job answered,

2 “ I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters!

I have heard many such things; wearisome and miserable comforters are you all!

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

Will your futile words of wind have no end? Or what makes you so bold to answer ?

4 I also could speak as you do. If your soul were in my soul’s place, I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you,

I also could speak as you do, if you were in my stead; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you.

5 b ut I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.

I would strengthen and encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would soothe your suffering.

6 “ Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?

If I speak, my sorrow is not soothed or lessened; and if I refrain, in what way am I eased?

7 B ut now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made desolate all my company.

But now has taken away my strength. You have made desolate all my family and associates.

8 Y ou have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.

You have laid firm hold on me and have shriveled me up, which is a witness against me; and my leanness are further evidence; testify to my face.

9 H e has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me. He has gnashed on me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.

'> My adversary Satan] has torn in his wrath and hated and persecuted me; he has gnashed upon me with his teeth; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.

10 T hey have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.

have gaped at me with their mouths; they have struck me upon the cheek insolently; they massed themselves together and conspired unanimously against me.

11 G od delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.

God has delivered me to the ungodly (to the evil one) and cast me into the hands of the wicked (Satan’s host).

12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.

I was living at ease, but crushed me and broke me apart; yes, he seized me by the neck and dashed me in pieces; then he set me up for his target.

13 H is archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall on the ground.

arrows whiz around me. He slashes open my vitals and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.

14 H e breaks me with breach on breach. He runs on me like a giant.

stabs me, making breach after breach and attacking again and again; he runs at me like a giant and irresistible warrior.

15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.

I have sewed sackcloth over my skin and have defiled my horn (my insignia of strength) in the dust.

16 M y face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids.

My face is red and swollen 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 guilt or violence in my hands and my prayer is pure.

18 “ Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.

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

19 E ven now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.

Even now, behold, my Witness is in heaven, and He who vouches for me is on high.

20 M y friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,

My friends scorn me, but my eye pours out tears to God.

21 t hat he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor!

Oh, that there might be one who would plead for a man with God and that he would maintain his right with Him, as a son of man pleads with or for his neighbor!

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

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