Job Decries His Comforters

1And Job will answer and say,

2I heard many like there: comforters of vexation ye all.

3Was there an end to words of wind? or what will provoke thee that thou wilt answer?

4Also I will speak as you: if it is your soul instead of my soul, I will join together with words against you, and shake my head against you upon it.

5I will strengthen you with my month, the moving of my lips shall hold back.

6If I shall speak, my pain will not be held back, and shall I cease, what will go from me?

7But now he made me weary: thou hast made desolate all mine assembly.

8Thou wilt lay fast hold on me to be for a testimony, and my leanness will rise up in me; it will answer against my face.

9He rent in his anger, and he will lie in wait for me, gnashing upon me with his teeth; mine enemy will sharpen his eyes against me.

10They gaped upon me with their mouth; with reproach they struck upon my cheek; they will fill out together against me.

11God will shut me up to the evil one, and he will cast me into the hands of the unjust.

12I was secure, and he will break me in pieces: and he seized upon my neck and he will disperse me, and he will set me up to him for a mark:

13His multitudes will surround upon me, he will cleave my reins asunder, and not spare; he will pour my gall upon the earth.

14He will break me, breaking upon the face of breaking; he will run upon me as the strong one.

15I sewed together sackcloth upon my skin, and I thrust my horn into the dust.

16My face became red from weeping, and upon my eye-lashes the shadow of death.

17Not for violence in my hands: and my prayer is clean.

18O earth, thou wilt not cover my blood; and shall there not be place for my cry?

19Also now, behold, my witness in the heavens, and my testimony in the heights.

20My friends mocking me: to God mine eye wept.

21Shall he judge for a man with God? and the son of man for his neighbor?

22When years of number shall come, and the way I shall go I shall not turn back.