1 Then Job answered and said,

1 ¶ Then Job answered and said,

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

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?

3 ¶ Shall vain words have an end?
Or what provoketh 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.

4 ¶ I also could speak as ye do;
If your soul were in my soul’s stead,
I could join words together 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.

5 ¶ But I would strengthen you with my mouth,
And the solace of my lips should assuage your grief.

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

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.

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.

8 ¶ And thou hast laid fast hold on me, which is a witness against me:
And my leanness riseth up against me, it testifieth 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.

9 ¶ He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me;
He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth:
Mine adversary 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.

10 ¶ They have gaped upon me with their mouth;
They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully:
They gather themselves together against me.

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

11 ¶ God delivereth me to the ungodly,
And casteth me 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.

12 ¶ I was at ease, and he brake me asunder;
Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces:
He hath also 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.

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.

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.

15 ¶ I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin,
And have laid my horn in the dust.

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

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.

17 ¶ Although there is no violence in mine hands,
And my prayer is pure.

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

18 ¶ O earth, cover not thou my blood,
And let my cry have no resting place.

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

19 ¶ Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven,
And he that voucheth for me is on high.

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

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!

21 ¶ That he would maintain the right of a man with God,
And of a son of man with his neighbour!

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

22 ¶ For when a few years are come,
I shall go the way whence I shall not return.