1 Then Job answered and said,
2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters {are} ye all. {miserable: or, troublesome}
3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? {vain...: Heb. words of wind}
4 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 {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 asswaged: and {though} I forbear, what am I eased? {what...: Heb. what goeth from me?}
7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
8 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 He teareth {me} in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.
11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. {hath...: Heb. hath shut me up}
12 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 His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids {is} the shadow of death;
17 Not for {any} injustice in mine hands: also my prayer {is} pure.
18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
19 Also now, behold, my witness {is} in heaven, and my record {is} on high. {on high: Heb. in the high places}
20 My friends scorn me: {but} mine eye poureth out {tears} unto God. {scorn me: Heb. are my scorners}
21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man {pleadeth} for his neighbour! {neighbour: or, friend}
22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way {whence} I shall not return. {a few...: Heb. years of number}