[1] Then Job answered,
[2] “I have heard all these things before. You three men give me trouble, not comfort.
[3] Your long speeches never end! Why do you continue arguing?
[4] I also could say the same things you say, if you had my troubles. I could say wise things against you and shake my head at you.
[5] But I could encourage you and give you hope with the things I say.
[6] “Nothing I say makes my pain go away. But keeping quiet doesn’t help either!
[7] Truly, God, you took away my strength. You destroyed my whole family.
[8] You have made me thin and weak, and people think that means I am guilty.
[9] “God attacks me, he is angry at me and tears my body apart. God grinds his teeth against me. My enemy looks at me with hate.
[10] People have crowded around me. They make fun of me and slap my face.
[11] God has given me to evil people. He let wicked people hurt me.
[12] Everything was fine with me, but then God crushed me! Yes, he took me by the neck and broke me into pieces! God used me for target practice.
[13] God’s archers are all around me. He shoots arrows in my kidneys. He shows no mercy. He spills my gall on the ground.
[14] Again and again God attacks me. He runs at me like a soldier in battle.
[15] “I am very sad, so I wear these clothes of sadness. I sit here in the dust and ashes, and I feel defeated.
[16] My face is red from crying. There are dark rings around my eyes.
[17] I was never cruel to anyone ˻but these bad things happened to me˼. My prayers are right and pure.
[18] “Earth, don’t hide the wrong things that were done to me. Don’t let my begging for fairness be stopped.
[19] Even now there is someone in heaven that will speak for me. There is someone above that will testify for me.
[20] My friend speaks for me while my eyes pour out tears to God.
[21] He speaks to God for me like a person arguing for his friend.
[22] “In only a few years I will go to that place of no return ˻(death)˼.