1 THEN Job answered and said,

2 I have heard many such things; wicked comforters are you all.

3 Do not grieve my spirit with words; even though you speak, I will not answer.

4 I also could speak as you do; I wish you were in my place, then I could try you out with words, and shake my head at you.

5 I would prove you with your own words, and the words of my lips would not spare you.

6 If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if I forbear, who can comfort me?

7 But now he has troubled me, and yet has preserved all of my testimony.

8 Thou didst appoint me and I became a witness, but my lies have testified against me; and I spoke in his presence.

9 He has torn me and broken me in his wrath; he gnashes upon me with his teeth; my enemy sharpens his eyes against me.

10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth reproachfully; they have smitten me upon my cheeks; they were filled with rage against me.

11 God has delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, but he has smitten me; he has also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his target.

13 His arrows are round about me, he shoots at my kidneys and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.

14 He breaks me with breach upon breach; he runs against me like a giant.

15 I have girded sackcloth upon my skin, and I have covered my head with dust.

16 My face is troubled with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

17 But not for any iniquity in my hands; my prayer also is pure.

18 O earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry have no place!

19 And now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my acquaintances are on high.

20 O my brethren and my neighbors! my eyes pour out tears to God!

21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor!

22 For the number of a man's years will come to an end; then he shall go the way from whence he shall not return.