¹ Job spoke next. He said:

² How often have I heard all this before! What sorry comforters you are!

³ 'When will these windy arguments be over?' or again, 'What sickness drives you to defend yourself?'

⁴ Oh yes! I too could talk as you do, if you were in my place; I could overwhelm you with speeches, shaking my head over you,

⁵ and speak words of encouragement, and then have no more to say.

⁶ When I speak, my suffering does not stop; if I say nothing, is it in any way reduced?

⁷ And now it is driving me to distraction; you have struck my whole acquaintanceship with horror,

⁸ now it rounds on me, my slanderer has now turned witness, he appears against me, accusing me face to face;

⁹ his anger tears and hounds me with gnashing teeth. My enemies look daggers at me,

¹⁰ and open gaping jaws. Their sneers strike like slaps in the face; and they all set on me at once.

¹¹ Yes, God has handed me over to the godless, and cast me into the hands of the wicked.

¹² I was living at peace, until he made me totter, taking me by the neck to shatter me. He has set me up as his target:

¹³ he shoots his arrows at me from all sides, pitilessly pierces my loins, and pours my gall out on the ground.

¹⁴ Breach after breach he drives through me, charging on me like a warrior.

¹⁵ I have sewn sackcloth over my skin, thrown my forehead in the dust.

¹⁶ My face is red with tears, and shadow dark as death covers my eyelids.

¹⁷ Nonetheless, my hands are free of violence, and my prayer is pure.

¹⁸ Cover not my blood, O earth, and let my cry mount without cease!

¹⁹ Henceforth I have a witness in heaven, my defender is there on high.

²⁰ Interpreter of my thoughts there with God, before whom flow my tears,

²¹ let my anguish plead the cause of a man at grips with God, just as a man might defend his fellow.

²² For the years of my life are numbered, and I am leaving by the road of no return.