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[1]But Job answered and said,
[2]I have heard many such things: poor comforters are ye all.
[3]What! is there any reason in vain words? or what will hinder thee from answering?
[4]I also will speak as ye do: if indeed your soul were in my soul's stead,
[5]then would I insult you with words, and I would shake my head at you.
[6]And would there were strength in my mouth, and I would not spare the movement of my lips.
[7]For if I should speak, I shall not feel the pain of my wound: and if I should be silent, how shall I be wounded the less?
[8]But now he has made me weary, and a worn-out fool; and thou hast laid hold of me.
[9]My falsehood has become a testimony, and has risen up against me: it has confronted me to my face.
[10]In his anger he has cast me down; he has gnashed his teeth upon me: the weapons of his robbers have fallen upon me.
[11] He has attacked me with the keen glances of his eyes; with his sharp spear he has smitten me down upon my knees; and they have run upon me with one accord.
[12]For the Lord has delivered me into the hands of unrighteous men, and thrown me upon the ungodly.
[13]When I was at peace he distracted me: he took me by the hair of the head, and plucked it out: he set me up as a mark.
[14]They surrounded me with spears, aiming at my reins: without sparing me they poured out my gall upon the ground.
[15]They overthrew me with fall upon fall: they ran upon me in their might.
[16] They sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and my strength has been spent on the ground.
[17]My belly has been parched with wailing, and darkness is on my eyelids.
[18]Yet there was no injustice in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
[19]Earth, cover not over the blood of my flesh, and let my cry have no place.
[20]And now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.
[21]Let my supplication come to the Lord, and let mine eye weep before him.
[22]Oh that a man might plead before the Lord, even as the son of man with his neighbor!
[23]But my years are numbered and their end come, and I shall go by the way by which I shall not return.
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