1Then Job answered and said,
2I have heard many such things:1Miserable comforters are ye all.3Shall 2vain words have an end?Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?4I 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.5But I would strengthen you with my mouth,And the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.
6Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged;And though I forbear, 3what am I eased?7But now he hath made me weary:Thou hast made desolate all my company.8And thou hast 4laid fast hold on me, which is a witness against me:And my leanness riseth up against me,It testifieth to my face.9He hath torn me in his wrath, and 5persecuted me;He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth:Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.10They have gaped upon me with their mouth;They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully:They gather themselves together against me.11God delivereth me to the ungodly,And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.12I 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.13His 6archers compass me round about;He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare;He poureth out my gall upon the ground.14He breaketh me with breach upon breach;He runneth upon me like a 7giant.15I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin,And have 8laid my horn in the dust.16My face is red with weeping,And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;17Although there is no violence in my hands,And my prayer is pure.
18O earth, cover not thou my blood,And let my cry 9have no resting-place.19Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven,And he that voucheth for me is on high.20My friends scoff at me:But mine eye poureth out tears unto God,2110That he would maintain the right of a man with God,And of a son of man with his neighbor!22For when a few years are come,I shall go the way whence I shall not return.