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