[1] Then Job answered and said: [2] "I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are ye all! [3] Shall vain words have an end? Or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? [4] 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] But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief. [6] "Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; and though I forbear, what am I eased? [7] But now He hath made me weary; Thou hast made desolate all my company. [8] 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] He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me; he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. [10] They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me. [11] God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. [12] "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] His archers compass me round about; he cleaveth my reins asunder and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground. [14] He breaketh me with breach upon breach; he runneth upon me like a giant. [15] "I have sewn sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust. [16] My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death, [17] not for any injustice in mine hands; also my prayer is pure. [18] "O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place. [19] Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high. [20] My friends scorn me, but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. [21] O, that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor! [22] When a few years have come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
