[1] Then Job answered,
[2] “I have heard many such things; Sorry comforters are you all.
[3] Is there no limit to windy words? Or what plagues you that you answer?
[4] I too could speak like you, If I were in your place. I could compose words against you And shake my head at you.
[5] I could strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips could lessen your pain.
[6] If I speak, my pain is not lessened, And if I hold back, what has left me?
[7] But now He has exhausted me; You have laid waste all my company.
[8] You have shriveled me up, It has become a witness; And my leanness rises up against me, It testifies to my face.
[9] His anger has torn me and hunted me down, He has gnashed at me with His teeth; My adversary glares at me.
[10] They have gaped at me with their mouth, They have slapped me on the cheek with contempt; They have massed themselves against me.
[11] God hands me over to ruffians And tosses me into the hands of the wicked.
[12] I was at ease, but He shattered me, And He has grasped me by the neck and shaken me to pieces; He has also set me up as His target.
[13] His arrows surround me. Without mercy He splits my kidneys open; He pours out my gall on the ground.
[14] He breaks through me with breach after breach; He runs at me like a warrior.
[15] I have sewed sackcloth over my skin And thrust my horn in the dust.
[16] My face is flushed from weeping, And deep darkness is on my eyelids,
[17] Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.
[18] O earth, do not cover my blood, And let there be no resting place for my cry.
[19] Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And my advocate is on high.
[20] My friends are my scoffers; My eye weeps to God.
[21] O that a man might plead with God As a man with his neighbor!
[22] For when a few years are past, I shall go the way of no return.”