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[1]Then Job answered and said:
[2]I have heard many such things; sorry comforters are ye all.
[3]Shall windy words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
[4]I also could speak as ye do; if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you.
[5]I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips would assuage your grief.
[6]Though I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and though I forbear, what am I eased?
[7]But now He hath made me weary; Thou hast made desolate all my company.
[8]And Thou hast shrivelled me up, which is a witness against me; and my leanness riseth up against me, it testifieth to my face.
[9]He hath torn me in His wrath, and hated me; He hath gnashed upon me with His teeth; mine adversar sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
[10]They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek scornfully; they gather themselves together against me.
[11]God delivereth me to the ungodly, and casteth me into the hands of the wicked.
[12]I was at ease, and He broke me asunder; yea, He hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces; He hath also set me up for His mark.
[13]His archers compass me round about, He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.
[14]He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.
[15]I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid my horn in the dust.
[16]My face reddened 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, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have resting-place.
[19]Even now, behold, my Witness is in heaven, and He that testifieth of me is on high.
[20]Mine inward thoughts are my intercessors, mine eye poureth out tears unto God;
[21]That He would set aright a man contending with God, as a son of man setteth aright his neighbour!
[22]For the years that are few are coming on, and I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
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