| 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.
|
Public Domain