Job
1 Then Job replied:
1 Then Job replied:
2 “I have heard many things like these;
you are miserable comforters, all of you!
you are miserable comforters, all of you!
3 Will your long-winded speeches never end?
What ails you that you keep on arguing?
What ails you that you keep on arguing?
4 I also could speak like you,
if you were in my place;
I could make fine speeches against you
and shake my head at you.
if you were in my place;
I could make fine speeches against you
and shake my head at you.
5 But my mouth would encourage you;
comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
6 “Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;
and if I refrain, it does not go away.
and if I refrain, it does not go away.
7 Surely, God, you have worn me out;
you have devastated my entire household.
you have devastated my entire household.
8 You have shriveled me up — and it has become a witness;
my gauntness rises up and testifies against me.
my gauntness rises up and testifies against me.
9 God assails me and tears me in his anger
and gnashes his teeth at me;
my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.
and gnashes his teeth at me;
my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.
10 People open their mouths to jeer at me;
they strike my cheek in scorn
and unite together against me.
they strike my cheek in scorn
and unite together against me.
11 God has turned me over to the ungodly
and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.
and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.
12 All was well with me, but he shattered me;
he seized me by the neck and crushed me.
He has made me his target;
he seized me by the neck and crushed me.
He has made me his target;
13 his archers surround me.
Without pity, he pierces my kidneys
and spills my gall on the ground.
Without pity, he pierces my kidneys
and spills my gall on the ground.
14 Again and again he bursts upon me;
he rushes at me like a warrior.
he rushes at me like a warrior.
15 “I have sewed sackcloth over my skin
and buried my brow in the dust.
and buried my brow in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping,
dark shadows ring my eyes;
dark shadows ring my eyes;
17 yet my hands have been free of violence
and my prayer is pure.
and my prayer is pure.
18 “Earth, do not cover my blood;
may my cry never be laid to rest!
may my cry never be laid to rest!
19 Even now my witness is in heaven;
my advocate is on high.
my advocate is on high.
20 My intercessor is my frienda
as my eyes pour out tears to God;
as my eyes pour out tears to God;
21 on behalf of a man he pleads with God
as one pleads for a friend.
as one pleads for a friend.
22 “Only a few years will pass
before I take the path of no return.
before I take the path of no return.