¶ Then Job answered and said,

I have heard¹ many such things: miserable² comforters are ye all.

Shall vain words³ have an end? or what emboldeneth⁴ thee that thou answerest?

I also could speak as ye do: if your soul⁵ were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words⁶ against you, and shake mine⁷ head at you.

But I would⁸ strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

¶ Though I speak, my grief⁹ is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased¹⁰?

But now he hath¹¹ made me weary: thou hast made¹² desolate all my company.

And thou hast¹³ filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness¹⁴ against me: and my leanness¹⁵ rising up in me beareth witness to my face.

He teareth me¹⁶ in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth¹⁷ upon me with his teeth; mine¹⁸ enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

¶ They have gaped¹⁹ upon me with their mouth; they have smitten²⁰ me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered²¹ themselves together against me.

God hath delivered me²² to the ungodly²³, and turned²⁴ me over into the hands of the wicked.

I was at ease²⁵, but he hath broken me²⁶ asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck²⁷, and shaken²⁸ me to pieces, and set me up²⁹ for his mark.

His archers³⁰ compass me round about, he cleaveth³¹ my reins asunder, and doth³² not spare; he poureth³³ out my gall upon the ground.

He breaketh³⁴ me with breach upon breach, he runneth³⁵ upon me like a giant.

I have sewed³⁶ sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn³⁷ in the dust.

My face³⁸ is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids³⁹ is the shadow of death;

¶ Not for⁴⁰ any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer⁴¹ is pure.

O earth⁴², cover not⁴³ thou my blood, and let my cry⁴⁴ have no place.

Also now, behold, my witness⁴⁵ is in heaven, and my record is on high⁴⁶.

¶ My friends scorn me:⁴⁷ but mine eye poureth⁴⁸ out tears unto God.

O that one might plead⁴⁹ for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour⁵⁰!

When a few years⁵¹ are come, then I shall go the way whence⁵² I shall not return.