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.
