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¹ Then Job answered, and said:² I have often heard such things as these: you are all troublesome comforters.³ Shall windy words have no end? or is it any trouble to thee to speak?⁴ I also could speak like you: and would God your soul were for my soul. (16-5) I would comfort you also with words, and would wag my head over you.⁵ (16-6) I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would move my lips, as sparing you.

⁶ (16-7) But what shall I do? If I speak, my pain will not rest: and if I hold my peace, it will not depart from me.⁷ (16-8) But now my sorrow hath oppressed me, and all my limbs are brought to nothing.⁸ (16-9) My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a false speaker riseth up against my face, contradicting me.⁹ (16-10) He hath gathered together his fury against me, and threatening me he hath gnashed with his teeth upon me: my enemy hath beheld me with terrible eyes.¹⁰ (16-11) They have opened their mouths upon me, and reproaching me they have struck me on the cheek, they are filled with my pains.¹¹ (16-12) God hath shut me up with the unjust man, and hath delivered me into the hands of the wicked.¹² (16-13) I that was formerly so wealthy, am all on a sudden broken to pieces: he hath taken me by my neck, he hath broken me, and hath set me up to be his mark.¹³ (16-14) He hath compassed me round about with his lances, he hath wounded my loins, he hath not spared, and hath poured out my bowels on the earth,¹⁴ (16-15) He hath torn me with wound upon wound, he hath rushed in upon me like a giant.¹⁵ (16-16) I have sowed sackcloth upon my skin, and have covered my flesh with ashes.¹⁶ (16-17) My face is swollen with weeping, and my eyelids are dim.

¹⁷ (16-18) These things have I suffered without the iniquity of my hand, when I offered pure prayers to God.¹⁸ (16-19) O earth, cover not thou my blood, neither let my cry find a hiding place in thee.¹⁹ (16-20) For behold my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth my conscience is on high.²⁰ (16-21) My friends are full of words: my eye poureth out tears to God.²¹ (16-22) And O that a man might so be judged with God, as the son of man is judged with his companion!²² (16-23) For behold short years pass away, and I am walking in a path by which I shall not return.