1 And Job answered and said,2 I have heard many such things: grievous comforters are ye all.3 Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?4 I also could speak as ye: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join together words against you, and shake my head at you;5 {But} I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage {your pain}.6 If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if I forbear, what am I eased?7 But now he hath made me weary; ...thou hast made desolate all my family;8 Thou hast shrivelled me up! it is become a witness; and my leanness riseth up against me, it beareth witness to my face.9 His anger teareth and pursueth me; he gnasheth with his teeth against me; {as} mine adversary he sharpeneth his eyes at me.10 They gape upon me with their mouth; they smite my cheeks reproachfully; they range themselves together against me.11 *God hath delivered me over to the iniquitous man, and hurled me into the hands of the wicked.12 I was at rest, but he hath shattered me; he hath taken me by the neck and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.13 His arrows encompass 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 mighty man.15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and rolled 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 my blood, and let there be no place for my cry!19 Even now, behold, my Witness is in the heavens, and he that voucheth for me is in the heights.20 My friends are my mockers; mine eye poureth out tears unto +God.21 Oh that there were arbitration for a man with +God, as a son of man for his friend!22 For years {few} in number shall pass, -and I shall go the way {whence} I shall not return.

1 Maar Job het geantwoord en gesê:2 Dergelike dinge het ek al baie gehoor: treurige vertroosters is julle almal.3 Kom daar nou 'n einde aan winderige woorde? Of wat prikkel jou dat jy antwoord?4 Ek sou ook kon spreek soos julle as julle siel in die plek van my siel was; ek sou woorde aanmekaar kon koppel teen julle en my hoof oor julle skud;5 ek sou julle kon versterk met my mond, en die troos van my lippe sou versagting aanbring!6 As ek sou spreek, my smart word nie versag nie; en as ek ophou -- watter verligting bring dit my?7 Maar nou het Hy my uitgeput; U het my hele huishouding verwoes.8 En U het my gegryp -- 'n getuie het dit teen my geword; en my siekte staan teen my op, dit getuig openlik teen my.9 Sy toorn het verskeur en my as vyand behandel; Hy het teen my gekners met sy tande; as my teëstander kyk Hy my met skerp oë aan.10 Hulle het hul mond teen my oopgespalk; smadelik het hulle my op die kakebeen geslaan; soos een man versamel hulle hul teen my.11 God gee my oor aan slegte mense en werp my in die hande van die goddelose.12 Ek het rustig gelewe; toe het Hy my verbrysel en my aan die nek gegryp en my verpletter; en Hy het my vir Hom as teiken opgestel.13 Sy pyle gons om my heen; Hy splits my niere sonder verskoning; Hy werp my gal op die grond uit.14 Bres op bres breek Hy in my; Hy loop my storm soos 'n held.15 'n Roukleed het ek oor my vel vasgewerk en my horing in die stof gesteek.16 My gesig het rooi geword van geween, en oor my ooglede is daar 'n doodskaduwee;17 alhoewel daar geen gewelddaad in my hande is nie en my gebed rein is.18 o Aarde, moenie my bloed bedek nie, en laat daar geen rusplek vir my geroep wees nie.19 Selfs nou, kyk, in die hemel is my Getuie; en Hy wat saam met my getuig, is in die hoogtes.20 My vriende spot met my; uit my oog drup trane tot God --21 dat Hy kan pleit vir 'n man by God en as Menseseun vir sy naaste.22 Want maar min jare kom -- dan bewandel ek 'n pad waarlangs ek nie terugkeer nie.