¹ Then Job answered and said,

^{2 Ref} I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all.

^{3 Ref} Shall vain words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

^{4 Ref} I also could speak as ye do; If your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join words together against you, And shake my head at you.

^{5 Ref} `But' I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage `your grief'.

^{6 Ref} Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And though I forbear, what am I eased?

^{7 Ref} But now he hath made me weary: Thou hast made desolate all my company.

^{8 Ref} And thou hast laid fast hold on me, `which' is a witness `against me': And my leanness riseth up against me, It testifieth to my face.

^{9 Ref} He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth: Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

^{10 Ref} They have gaped upon me with their mouth; They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully: They gather themselves together against me.

^{11 Ref} God delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.

^{12 Ref} I was at ease, and he brake me asunder; Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He hath also set me up for his mark.

^{13 Ref} His archers compass me round about; He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.

^{14 Ref} He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.

^{15 Ref} I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And have laid my horn in the dust.

^{16 Ref} My face is red with weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

^{17 Ref} Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.

^{18 Ref} O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have no `resting' -place.

^{19 Ref} Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he that voucheth for me is on high.

^{20 Ref} My friends scoff at me: `But' mine eye poureth out tears unto God,

^{21 Ref} That he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor!

^{22 Ref} For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

¹ Then Job answered and said,

^{2 Ref} I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

^{3 Ref} Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

^{4 Ref} 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 Ref} But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

^{6 Ref} Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?

^{7 Ref} But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

^{8 Ref} 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 Ref} He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

^{10 Ref} They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

^{11 Ref} God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

^{12 Ref} 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 Ref} His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

^{14 Ref} He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.

^{15 Ref} I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.

^{16 Ref} My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

^{17 Ref} Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.

^{18 Ref} O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.

^{19 Ref} Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.

^{20 Ref} My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

^{21 Ref} O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

^{22 Ref} When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.