1Then Job answered:Then Job answered,Then Job answered and said,Then Job answered and said,2“I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all.“I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters!I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all.3Is there no end to your long-winded speeches? What provokes you to continue testifying?Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?Shall vain words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?4I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.I also could speak as you do. If your soul were in my soul’s place, I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you,I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.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.5But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.But I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.6Even if I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I hold back, how will it go away?“Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And though I forbear, what am I eased?7Surely He has now exhausted me; You have devastated all my family.But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made all my company desolate.But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.But now he hath made me weary: Thou hast made desolate all my company.8You have bound me, and it has become a witness; my frailty rises up and testifies against me.You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.And thou hast laid fast hold on me, which is a witness against me: And my leanness riseth up against me, It testifieth to my face.9His anger has torn me and opposed me; He gnashes His teeth at me. My adversary pierces me with His eyes.He has torn me in his wrath and persecuted me. He has gnashed on me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth: Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.10They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt; they join together against me.They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.They have gaped upon me with their mouth; They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully: They gather themselves together against me.11God has delivered me to unjust men; He has thrown me to the clutches of the wicked.God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.God delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.12I was at ease, but He shattered me; He seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has set me up as His target;I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.I was at ease, and he brake me asunder; Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He hath also set me up for his mark.13His archers surround me. He pierces my kidneys without mercy and spills my gall on the ground.His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my bile on the ground.His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.His archers compass me round about; He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.14He breaks me with wound upon wound; He rushes me like a mighty warrior.He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs at me like a giant.He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.15I have sewn sackcloth over my skin; I have buried my horn in the dust.I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And have laid my horn in the dust.16My face is red with weeping, and deep shadows ring my eyes;My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids,My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;My face is red with weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;17yet my hands are free of violence and my prayer is pure.although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.18O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help never be laid to rest.“Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have no resting -place.19Even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he that voucheth for me is on high.20My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.My friends scoff at me: But mine eye poureth out tears unto God,21Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor!O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!That he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor!22For when only a few years are past I will go the way of no return.For when a few years have come, I will go the way of no return.When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
Berean Standard Bible (public domain).World English Bible (public domain).King James Version (public domain in the US).American Standard Version, 1901 (public domain).