1 Job reproveth his friends of inhumanity toward him: 7 he pathetically describeth his unhappy case; 17 still protesting his innocence, for which he maketh appeal to God.
1. Then Job answered and said,
2. I have heard many asuch things: 1miserable comforters are ye all.
3. Shall 2vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
4. I also bcould speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's *stead, I could heap up words against you, and cshake mine head at you.
5. But dI would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should *asswage your grief.
6. Though I speak, emy grief is not *asswaged: and though I forbear, 3what am I eased?
7. But now he hath made me fweary: thou hast gmade desolate all hmy company.
8. And thou ihast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my jleanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.
9. He kteareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: lhe gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy msharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10. They nhave gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.
11. God 4hath odelivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.
12. I was pat ease, but he hath broken me *asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and qset me up for his mark.
13. His rarchers *compass me round about, he cleaveth my *reins *asunder, and doth not spare; he spoureth out my gall upon the ground.
14. He tbreaketh me with ubreach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.
15. I have vsewed sackcloth upon my skin, and wdefiled my horn in the dust.
16. xMy face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17. Not yfor any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer zis pure.
18. O aearth, bcover not thou my blood, and let my ccry have no place.
19. Also now, behold, dmy witness is in heaven, and my record is 5on high.
20. My friends 6scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
21. O that one might eplead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his 7neighbour!
22. When 8a few years are come, then I shall go the way fwhence I shall not return.
Then Job answered and said, I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all. Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? 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. But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief. Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased? But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company. 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. He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me. God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. 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. His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground. He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant. I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust. My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death; Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure. O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place. Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high. My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour! When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.