Then Job replied and said:

Then Job answered and said,

I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are all of you.

I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

Will your words of wind never end? Or what provokes you to answer?

Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

I could also speak as you do, if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.

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.

But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the comfort of my lips would bring you relief.

But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

If I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I refrain, what do I lose?

Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?

Surely now, God has worn me out; you have devastated my entire household.

But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

You have bound me up as a witness; my gauntness rises up and testifies against me.

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.

His anger tears at me, and he hates me; he gnashes his teeth at me. My adversary sharpens his eyes against me.

He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

They gape at me with their mouths; they strike my cheeks in scorn and together they conspire against me.

They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

God has handed me over to the unjust and thrown me into the hands of the wicked.

God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

I was at ease, but he shattered me; he seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has made me his target.

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.

His archers surround me and pierce my kidneys without mercy; he pours my gall on the ground.

His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

He breaks me with breach upon breach; he rushes at me like a warrior.

He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.

I have sewn sackcloth over my skin and buried my strength in the dust.

I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.

My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death.

My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

Yet my hands are free of violence, and my prayer is pure.

Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.

O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry never find a resting place.

O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.

Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my testimony is on high.

Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.

My intercessors are my friends; my eye drips to God.

My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

Oh, that one might plead for a man with God, as one does for his neighbor.

O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

For only a few years will come, and the path I take will never return.

When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.