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 And Job answereth and saith: --

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

^{3 Ref} Is there an end to words of wind? Or what doth embolden thee that thou answerest?

^{4 Ref} I also, like you, might speak, If your soul were in my soul's stead. I might join against you with words, And nod at you with my head.

^{5 Ref} I might harden you with my mouth, And the moving of my lips might be sparing.

^{6 Ref} If I speak, my pain is not restrained, And I cease -- what goeth from me?

^{7 Ref} Only, now, it hath wearied me; Thou hast desolated all my company,

^{8 Ref} And Thou dost loathe me, For a witness it hath been, And rise up against me doth my failure, In my face it testifieth.

^{9 Ref} His anger hath torn, and he hateth me, He hath gnashed at me with his teeth, My adversary sharpeneth his eyes for me.

^{10 Ref} They have gaped on me with their mouth, In reproach they have smitten my cheeks, Together against me they set themselves.

^{11 Ref} God shutteth me up unto the perverse, And to the hands of the wicked turneth me over.

^{12 Ref} At ease I have been, and he breaketh me, And he hath laid hold on my neck, And he breaketh me in pieces, And he raiseth me to him for a mark.

^{13 Ref} Go round against me do his archers. He splitteth my reins, and spareth not, He poureth out to the earth my gall.

^{14 Ref} He breaketh me -- breach upon breach, He runneth upon me as a mighty one.

^{15 Ref} Sackcloth I have sewed on my skin, And have rolled in the dust my horn.

^{16 Ref} My face is foul with weeping, And on mine eyelids `is' death-shade.

^{17 Ref} Not for violence in my hands, And my prayer `is' pure.

^{18 Ref} O earth, do not thou cover my blood! And let there not be a place for my cry.

^{19 Ref} Also, now, lo, in the heavens `is' my witness, And my testifier in the high places.

^{20 Ref} My interpreter `is' my friend, Unto God hath mine eye dropped:

^{21 Ref} And he reasoneth for a man with God, And a son of man for his friend.

^{22 Ref} When a few years do come, Then a path I return not do I go.