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 my 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; my 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 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 encompass me; 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 sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust. |
16. |
My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids are the shades of death; |
17. |
Not for any injustice in my 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 my eye poureth out tears to God. |
21. |
O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor! |
22. |
When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return. |