Job Reproaches His Pitiless Friends

1 Then Job answered and said:

2 “I have heard many such things;

Miserable comfortersareyou all!

3 Shall words of wind have an end?

Or what provokes you that you answer?

4 I also could speak as youdo,

If your soul were in my soul’s place.

I could heap up words against you,

Andshake my head at you;

5 ButI would strengthen you with my mouth,

And the comfort of my lips would relieveyourgrief.

6 “Though I speak, my grief is not relieved;

AndifI remain silent, how am I eased?

7 But now He hasworn me out;

Youhave made desolate all my company.

8 You have shriveled me up,

And it is awitnessagainstme;

My leanness rises up against me

Andbears witness to my face.

9 He tearsmein His wrath, and hates me;

He gnashes at me with His teeth;

My adversary sharpens His gaze on me.

10 Theygape at me with their mouth,

Theystrike me reproachfully on the cheek,

They gather together against me.

11 Godhas delivered me to the ungodly,

And turned me over to the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, but He hasshattered me;

He also has takenmeby my neck, and shaken me to pieces;

He hasset me up for His target,

13 His archers surround me.

He pierces my heart and does not pity;

He pours out my gall on the ground.

14 He breaks me with wound upon wound;

He runs at me like a warrior.

15 “I have sewn sackcloth over my skin,

Andlaid my head in the dust.

16 My face is flushed from weeping,

And on my eyelidsisthe shadow of death;

17 Although no violenceisin my hands,

And my prayerispure.

18 “O earth, do not cover my blood,

Andlet my cry have norestingplace!

19 Surely even nowmy witnessisin heaven,

And my evidenceison high.

20 My friends scorn me;

My eyes pour outtearsto God.

21 Oh, that one might plead for a man with God,

As a manpleadsfor his neighbor!

22 For when a few years are finished,

I shallgo the way of no return.