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.