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 emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? 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? 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. 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. 20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. 21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour! 22 When a few years are come, then 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.