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 asswage your grief.
6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: 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 sewed 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 neighbour!
22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I
shall not return.
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