_1. Then Job answered and said, _2. I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all. _3. Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? _4. 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. _5. But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief. _6. Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: 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 filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face. _9. He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. _10. They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me. _11. God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. _12. 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. _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 defiled my horn in the dust. _16. My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death; _17. Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure. _18. O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place. _19. Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high. _20. My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. _21. O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour! _22. When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.