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¹ Then Job answered and said,² I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are you all.³ Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?⁴ I also could speak as you do; If your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join words together against you, And shake my head at you.⁵ [But] I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage [your grief].

⁶ Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And though I forbear, what am I eased?⁷ But now he has made me weary: You have made desolate all my company.⁸ And you have shriveled me up, [which] is a witness [against me]: And my leanness rises up against me, It testifies to my face.⁹ He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He has gnashed on me with his teeth: My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.¹⁰ They have gaped on me with their mouth; They have smitten me on the cheek reproachfully: They gather themselves together against me.¹¹ God delivers me to the ungodly, And casts me into the hands of the wicked.¹² I was at ease, and he broke me apart; Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He has also set me up for his mark.¹³ His archers compass me round about; He splits my reins apart, and does not spare; He pours out my gall on the ground.¹⁴ He breaks me with breach on breach; He runs on me like a giant.¹⁵ I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, And have laid my horn in the dust.¹⁶ My face is red with weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

¹⁷ Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.¹⁸ O earth, do not cover my blood, And let my cry have no [resting]-place.¹⁹ Even now, look, my witness is in heaven, And he that vouches for me is on high.²⁰ My friends scoff at me: [But] my eye pours out tears to God,²¹ That he would maintain the right of a [noble] man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor!²² For when a few years have come, I shall go the way from where I shall not return.