1 And Job made answer and said,2 Such things have frequently come to my ears: you are comforters who only give trouble.3 May words which are like the wind be stopped? or what is troubling you to make answer to them?4 It would not be hard for me to say such things if your souls were in my soul's place; joining words together against you, and shaking my head at you:5 I might give you strength with my mouth, and not keep back the comfort of my lips.6 If I say what is in my mind, my pain becomes no less: and if I keep quiet, how much of it goes from me?7 But now he has overcome me with weariness and fear, and I am in the grip of all my trouble.8 It has come up as a witness against me, and the wasting of my flesh makes answer to my face.9 I am broken by his wrath, and his hate has gone after me; he has made his teeth sharp against me: my haters are looking on me with cruel eyes;10 Their mouths are open wide against me; the blows of his bitter words are falling on my face; all of them come together in a mass against me.11 God gives me over to the power of sinners, sending me violently into the hands of evil-doers.12 I was in comfort, but I have been broken up by his hands; he has taken me by the neck, shaking me to bits; he has put me up as a mark for his arrows.13 His bowmen come round about me; their arrows go through my body without mercy; my life is drained out on the earth.14 I am broken with wound after wound; he comes rushing on me like a man of war.15 I have made haircloth the clothing of my skin, and my horn is rolled in the dust.16 My face is red with weeping, and my eyes are becoming dark;17 Though my hands have done no violent acts, and my prayer is clean.18 O earth, let not my blood be covered, and let my cry have no resting-place!19 Even now my witness is in heaven, and the supporter of my cause is on high.20 My friends make sport of me; to God my eyes are weeping,21 So that he may give decision for a man in his cause with God, and between a son of man and his neighbour.22 For in a short time I will take the journey from which I will not come back.

1 Then Job answered and said,

2 I have heard many such things:

Miserable comforters are ye all.

3 Shall vain words have an end?

Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

4 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 But I would strengthen you with my mouth,

And the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.

6 Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged;

And though I forbear, what am I eased?

7 But now he hath made me weary:

Thou hast made desolate all my company.

8 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 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 They have gaped upon me with their mouth;

They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully:

They gather themselves together against me.

11 God delivereth me to the ungodly,

And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.

12 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 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 have laid my horn in the dust.

16 My face is red with weeping,

And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

17 Although there is no violence in my hands,

And my prayer is pure.

18 O earth, cover not thou my blood,

And let my cry have no resting-place.

19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven,

And he that voucheth for me is on high.

20 My friends scoff at me:

But mine eye poureth out tears unto God,

21 That he would maintain the right of a man with God,

And of a son of man with his neighbor!

22 For when a few years are come,

I shall go the way whence I shall not return.