1Then Job answered and said:
2“I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all.
3Is there an end to words of wind? Or what provokes you that you answer?
4I too could speak as you do, if you were in my place; I could string together words against you and shake my head at you.
5I could strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would restrain your pain.
6If I speak, my pain is not restrained, and if I hold back, what goes away from me?
7But now He has worn me out; You have devastated all my company.
8You have shriveled me up—it has become a witness; my leanness rises up against me, testifying to my face.
9His anger tears and assails me; He gnashes His teeth against me; my adversary sharpens His eyes at me.
10They gape at me with their mouth; in reproach they strike my cheeks; together they mass themselves against me.
11God hands me over to the wicked one, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
12I was at ease, and He shattered me; He seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; He set me up as His target.
13His archers surround me; He splits open my kidneys and shows no pity; He pours out my gall to the ground.
14He breaches me, breach upon breach; He runs at me like a warrior.
15I have sewn sackcloth over my skin, and thrust my horn into the dust.
16My face is reddened from weeping, and on my eyelids lies deep darkness,
17though there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
18O earth, do not cover my blood, and let there be no resting place for my cry!
19Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and He who vouches for me is on high.
20My friends are my mockers; to God my eye drips.
21Oh that one might argue for a man with God, as a son of man does for his neighbor!
22For a few numbered years will come, and then I will walk the path from which I will not return.
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