Study Desk

Job

Then Job replied:

"I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters,^(a) all of you!^(b)

Will your long-winded speeches never end?^(c) What ails you that you keep on arguing?^(d)

I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head^(e) at you.

But my mouth would encourage you; comfort^(f) from my lips would bring you relief.^(g)

"Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I refrain, it does not go away.^(h)

Surely, God, you have worn me out;⁽ⁱ⁾ you have devastated my entire household.^(j)

You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness; my gauntness^(k) rises up and testifies against me.^(l)

God assails me and tears^(m) me in his anger⁽ⁿ⁾ and gnashes his teeth at me;^(o) my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.^(p)

People open their mouths^(q) to jeer at me;^(r) they strike my cheek^(s) in scorn and unite together against me.^(t)

God has turned me over to the ungodly and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.^(u)

All was well with me, but he shattered me; he seized me by the neck and crushed me.^(v) He has made me his target;^(w)

his archers surround me.^(x) Without pity, he pierces^(y) my kidneys and spills my gall on the ground.

Again and again^(z) he bursts upon me; he rushes at me like a warrior.^(aa)

"I have sewed sackcloth^(ab) over my skin and buried my brow in the dust.^(ac)

My face is red with weeping,^(ad) dark shadows ring my eyes;^(ae)

yet my hands have been free of violence^(af) and my prayer is pure.^(ag)

"Earth, do not cover my blood;^(ah) may my cry^(ai) never be laid to rest!^(aj)

Even now my witness^(ak) is in heaven;^(al) my advocate is on high.^(am)

My intercessor^(an) is my friend^[a](ao) as my eyes pour out^(ap) tears^(aq) to God;

on behalf of a man he pleads^(ar) with God as one pleads for a friend.

"Only a few years will pass before I take the path of no return.^(as)