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.