1 ¶ Then Job answered and said,

2 M any times I have heard such things; miserable comforters are ye all.

3 S hall vain words have an end? Or what is it that emboldens thee to answer?

4 I also could speak as ye do. I wish your soul were in my soul’s stead, that I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.

5 B ut I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would assuage the pain.

6 ¶ Though if I speak, my pain does not cease; and if I forbear to speak, it does not depart from me.

7 B ut now he has made me weary; thou hast made desolate all my company.

8 A nd thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me bears witness to my face.

9 H is wrath has torn me and has been against me; he gnashed upon me with his teeth; my enemy sharpened his eyes upon me.

10 T hey have opened their mouth against me; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

11 G od has delivered me unto the liar, and in the hands of the wicked he has caused me to tremble.

12 I was prosperous, but he has broken me asunder; he has taken me by my neck and shaken me to pieces and set me up for his mark.

13 H is archers compassed me round about; he cleaved my kidneys asunder and did not spare; he poured out my gall upon the ground.

14 H e broke me with breach upon breach; he ran upon me like a giant.

15 I have sewn sackcloth upon my skin and put dust over my head.

16 M y face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death,

17 ¶ even though there is no injustice in my hands, and my prayer has been pure.

18 O earth, do not cover my blood; and let there be no place where my cry is hidden.

19 C ertainly my witness is even now in the heavens, and my record is on high.

20 T hose who dispute with me are my friends, but my eyes shall pour out tears unto God.

21 O that a man might dispute with God, as he can with his neighbour!

22 W hen the counted years are come, then I shall go the way from which I shall not return.