1. Then Job replied:
2. “I have heard many things like these before.What miserable comforters are you all!
3. Will there be an end to your windy words?Or what provokes you that you answer?
4. I also could speak like you,if you were in my place;I could pile up words against youand I could shake my head at you.
5. But I would strengthen you with my words;comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
6. “But if I speak, my pain is not relieved,and if I refrain from speaking – how much of it goes away?
7. Surely now he has worn me out,you have devastated my entire household.
8. You have seized me, and it has become a witness;my leanness has risen up against me and testifies against me.
9. His anger has torn me and persecuted me;he has gnashed at me with his teeth;my adversary locks his eyes on me.
10. People have opened their mouths against me,they have struck my cheek in scorn;they unite together against me.
11. God abandons me to evil men,and throws me into the hands of wicked men.
12. I was in peace, and he has shattered me.He has seized me by the neck and crushed me.He has made me his target;
13. his archers surround me.Without pity he pierces my kidneysand pours out my gall on the ground.
14. He breaks through against me, time and time again;he rushes against me like a warrior.
15. I have sewed sackcloth on my skin,and buried my horn in the dust;
16. my face is reddened because of weeping,and on my eyelids there is a deep darkness,
17. although there is no violence in my handsand my prayer is pure.
18. “O earth, do not cover my blood,nor let there be a secret place for my cry.
19. Even now my witness is in heaven;my advocate is on high.
20. My intercessor is my friendas my eyes pour out tears to God;
21. and he contends with God on behalf of manas a man pleads for his friend.
22. For the years that lie ahead are few,and then I will go on the way of no return.