[1] And Job made answer and said, [2] Such things have frequently come to
my ears: you are comforters who only give trouble. [3] May words which are
like the wind be stopped? or what is troubling you to make answer to them?
[4] It would not be hard for me to say such things if your souls were in my
soul's place; joining words together against you, and shaking my head at
you: [5] I might give you strength with my mouth, and not keep back the
comfort of my lips. [6] If I say what is in my mind, my pain becomes no
less: and if I keep quiet, how much of it goes from me? [7] But now he has
overcome me with weariness and fear, and I am in the grip of all my
trouble. [8] It has come up as a witness against me, and the wasting of my
flesh makes answer to my face. [9] I am broken by his wrath, and his hate
has gone after me; he has made his teeth sharp against me: my haters are
looking on me with cruel eyes; [10] Their mouths are open wide against me;
the blows of his bitter words are falling on my face; all of them come
together in a mass against me. [11] God gives me over to the power of
sinners, sending me violently into the hands of evil-doers. [12] I was in
comfort, but I have been broken up by his hands; he has taken me by the
neck, shaking me to bits; he has put me up as a mark for his arrows. [13]
His bowmen come round about me; their arrows go through my body without
mercy; my life is drained out on the earth. [14] I am broken with wound
after wound; he comes rushing on me like a man of war. [15] I have made
haircloth the clothing of my skin, and my horn is rolled in the dust. [16]
My face is red with weeping, and my eyes are becoming dark; [17] Though my
hands have done no violent acts, and my prayer is clean. [18] O earth, let
not my blood be covered, and let my cry have no resting-place! [19] Even
now my witness is in heaven, and the supporter of my cause is on high. [20]
My friends make sport of me; to God my eyes are weeping, [21] So that he
may give decision for a man in his cause with God, and between a son of man
and his neighbour. [22] For in a short time I will take the journey from
which I will not come back.