² Such things have frequently come to my ears: you are comforters who only give trouble.

⁴ But you put a false face on things; all your attempts to put things right are of no value.

⁵ If only you would keep quiet, it would be a sign of wisdom!

⁶ Will a man take food which has no taste without salt? or is there any taste in the soft substance of purslain?

²⁵ How pleasing are upright words! but what force is there in your arguments?

² Are all these words to go unanswered? and is a man seen to be right because he is full of talk?

³ Are your words of pride to make men keep quiet? and are you to make sport, with no one to put you to shame?

² How long will you make my life bitter, crushing me with words?

³ Ten times now you have made sport of me; it gives you no sense of shame to do me wrong.

² How have you given help to him who has no power! how have you been the salvation of the arm which has no strength!

³ How have you given teaching to him who has no wisdom, and fully made clear true knowledge!

²⁶ Because they are cruel to him against whom your hand is turned; they make bitter the grief of him who is wounded by you.

¹⁶ These do it from love, conscious that I am responsible for the cause of the good news:

¹⁹ You have knowledge of this, dear brothers. But let every man be quick in hearing, slow in words, slow to get angry;