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Then Job responded,

Then Job answered and said,

"I have heard many things like these; Miserable comforters are you all!

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

"Is there no end to windy words? Or what provokes you that you answer?

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

"I too could speak like you, If only I were in your place. I could compose 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.

"Or I could strengthen you with my mouth, And the condolence of my lips could lessen your pain.

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 lessened, And if I refrain, what pain leaves me?

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

"But now He has exhausted me; You have laid waste all my group of loved ones.

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

"And You have shriveled me up, It has become a witness; And my infirmity rises up against me, It testifies to my face.

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 has torn me and hunted me down, He has gnashed at me with His teeth; My enemy glares at 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 have gaped at me with their mouths, They have slapped me on the cheek with contempt; They have massed themselves 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 hands me over to criminals, And tosses 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, And He has grasped me by my neck and shaken me to pieces; He has also set me up as 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 arrows surround me. He splits my kidneys open without mercy; He pours out my bile 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 through me with breach after breach; He runs at me like a warrior.

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

"I have sewed sackcloth over my skin, And thrust my horn in the dust.

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

"My face is flushed from weeping, And deep darkness is on my eyelids,

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

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

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

"Earth, do not cover my blood, And may there be no resting place for my cry.

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

"Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And my advocate is on high.

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

"My friends are my scoffers; My eye weeps to God,

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

That one might plead for a man with God As a son of man with his neighbor!

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

"For when a few years are past, I shall go the way of no return.

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