Common English Bible CEB
English Standard Version ESV
1 Then Job answered:
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Then Job answered and said:
2 I've heard many things like these. All of you are sorry comforters.
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“I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all.
3 Will windy talk ever cease; what bothers you that you must argue?
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Shall windy words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
4 In your situation I could speak like you; I could put words together to oppose you, shake my head over you.
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I also could speak as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you.
5 I could heap up words, strengthen you with my speech; my trembling lips would be held in check.
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I could strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.
6 If I speak, my pain is not eased; if I hold back, what have I lost?
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“If I speak, my pain is not assuaged, and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?
7 Now God has surely worn me out. You have destroyed my entire group,
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Surely now God has worn me out; he has made desolate all my company.
8 seized me, which became grounds for an accusation. My leanness rises to bear witness against me.
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And he has shriveled me up, which is a witness against me, and my leanness has risen up against me; it testifies to my face.
9 His anger tears me and afflicts me; he slashes at me with his teeth. My enemy pierces me with his eyes.
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He has torn me in his wrath and hated me; he has gnashed his teeth at me; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.
10 They open their mouths at me and strike my cheek in a taunt; they gang up on me.
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Men have gaped at me with their mouth; they have struck me insolently on the cheek; they mass themselves together against me.
11 God delivers me to a criminal and forces me into the hands of the wicked.
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God gives me up to the ungodly and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at rest, but he shattered me, seized me by the back of my neck, dashed me into pieces; he raised me up for his target.
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I was at ease, and he broke me apart; he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; he set me up as his target;
13 His archers surround me; he cuts my kidneys open without pity and doesn't care, pours my gall on the ground,
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his archers surround me. He slashes open my kidneys and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.
14 bursts me open over and over, runs against me like a strong man.
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He breaks me with breach upon breach; he runs upon me like a warrior.
15 I've sewed rough cloth over my skin and buried my dignity in the dust.
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I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin and have laid my strength in the dust.
16 My face is red from crying, and dark gloom hangs on my eyelids.
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My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is deep darkness,
17 But there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
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although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
18 Earth, don't cover my blood; let my outcry never cease.
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“O earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry find no resting place.
19 Surely now my witness stands in heaven; my advocate is on high;
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Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who testifies for me is on high.
20 my go-between, my friend. While my eyes drip tears to God,
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My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God,
21 let him plead with God for a human being, like a person pleads for a friend.
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that he would argue the case of a man with God, as a son of man does with his neighbor.
22 A number of years will surely pass, and then I'll walk a path that I won't return.
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For when a few years have come I shall go the way from which I shall not return.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025