Job
1Then Job replied:
2“I have heard many things like these;
you are miserable comforters, all of you!
3Will your long-winded speeches never end?
What ails you that you keep on arguing?
4I also could speak like you,
if you were in my place;
I could make fine speeches against you
and shake my head at you.
5But my mouth would encourage you;
comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
6“Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;
and if I refrain, it does not go away.
7Surely, God, you have worn me out;
you have devastated my entire household.
8You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness;
my gauntness rises up and testifies against me.
9God assails me and tears me in his anger
and gnashes his teeth at me;
my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.
10People open their mouths to jeer at me;
they strike my cheek in scorn
and unite together against me.
11God has turned me over to the ungodly
and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.
12All was well with me, but he shattered me;
he seized me by the neck and crushed me.
He has made me his target;
13his archers surround me.
Without pity, he pierces my kidneys
and spills my gall on the ground.
14Again and again he bursts upon me;
he rushes at me like a warrior.
15“I have sewed sackcloth over my skin
and buried my brow in the dust.
16My face is red with weeping,
dark shadows ring my eyes;
17yet my hands have been free of violence
and my prayer is pure.
18“Earth, do not cover my blood;
may my cry never be laid to rest!
19Even now my witness is in heaven;
my advocate is on high.
20My intercessor is my friend16:20 Or My friends treat me with scorn
as my eyes pour out tears to God;
21on behalf of a man he pleads with God
as one pleads for a friend.
22“Only a few years will pass
before I take the path of no return.
1Then Job answered and said, 2I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.16.2 miserable: or, troublesome 3Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?16.3 vain…: Heb. words of wind 4I 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. 5But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
6Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?16.6 what…: Heb. what goeth from me? 7But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company. 8And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face. 9He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. 10They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me. 11God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.16.11 hath…: Heb. hath shut me up 12I 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. 13His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground. 14He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant. 15I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust. 16My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure. 18O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place. 19Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.16.19 on high: Heb. in the high places 20My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.16.20 scorn me: Heb. are my scorners 21O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!16.21 neighbour: or, friend 22When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.16.22 a few…: Heb. years of number
