1 Then Job answered and said,
2 Many times I have heard such things; miserable comforters are ye all. 3 Shall vain words have an end? Or what is it that emboldens thee to answer? 4 I also could speak as ye do. I wish your soul were in my soul’s stead, that I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you. 5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would assuage the pain.
6 Though if I speak, my pain does not cease; and if I forbear to speak, it does not depart from me. 7 But now he has 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 bears witness to my face. 9 His wrath has torn me and has been against me; he gnashed upon me with his teeth; my enemy sharpened his eyes upon me. 10 They have opened their mouth against me; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me. 11 God has delivered me unto the liar, and in the hands of the wicked he has caused me to tremble. 12 I was prosperous, but he has broken me asunder; he has taken me by my neck and shaken me to pieces and set me up for his mark. 13 His archers compassed me round about; he cleaved my kidneys asunder and did not spare; he poured out my gall upon the ground. 14 He broke me with breach upon breach; he ran upon me like a giant. 15 I have sewn sackcloth upon my skin and put dust over my head. 16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death, 17 even though there is no injustice in my hands, and my prayer has been pure.
18 O earth, do not cover my blood; and let there be no place where my cry is hidden. 19 Certainly my witness is even now in the heavens, and my record is on high. 20 Those who dispute with me are my friends, but my eyes shall pour out tears unto God. 21 O that a man might dispute with God, as he can with his neighbour! 22 When the counted years are come, then I shall go the way from which I shall not return.