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.
