1 A nd Job answereth and saith: --

2 I have heard many such things, Miserable comforters ye all.

3 I s there an end to words of wind? Or what doth embolden thee that thou answerest?

4 I also, like you, might speak, If your soul were in my soul's stead. I might join against you with words, And nod at you with my head.

5 I might harden you with my mouth, And the moving of my lips might be sparing.

6 I f I speak, my pain is not restrained, And I cease -- what goeth from me?

7 O nly, now, it hath wearied me; Thou hast desolated all my company,

8 A nd Thou dost loathe me, For a witness it hath been, And rise up against me doth my failure, In my face it testifieth.

9 H is anger hath torn, and he hateth me, He hath gnashed at me with his teeth, My adversary sharpeneth his eyes for me.

10 T hey have gaped on me with their mouth, In reproach they have smitten my cheeks, Together against me they set themselves.

11 G od shutteth me up unto the perverse, And to the hands of the wicked turneth me over.

12 A t ease I have been, and he breaketh me, And he hath laid hold on my neck, And he breaketh me in pieces, And he raiseth me to him for a mark.

13 G o round against me do his archers. He splitteth my reins, and spareth not, He poureth out to the earth my gall.

14 H e breaketh me -- breach upon breach, He runneth upon me as a mighty one.

15 S ackcloth I have sewed on my skin, And have rolled in the dust my horn.

16 M y face is foul with weeping, And on mine eyelids death-shade.

17 N ot for violence in my hands, And my prayer pure.

18 O earth, do not thou cover my blood! And let there not be a place for my cry.

19 A lso, now, lo, in the heavens my witness, And my testifier in the high places.

20 M y interpreter my friend, Unto God hath mine eye dropped:

21 A nd he reasoneth for a man with God, And a son of man for his friend.

22 W hen a few years do come, Then a path I return not do I go.