Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 I have heard words like that before;
1
Then Job answered,
2 the comfort you give is only torment.
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"I have heard many such things. Miserable comforters are you all!
3 Are you going to keep on talking forever? Do you always have to have the last word?
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Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
4 If you were in my place and I in yours, I could say everything you are saying. I could shake my head wisely and drown you with a flood of words.
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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 I could strengthen you with advice and keep talking to comfort you.
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But I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.
6 But nothing I say helps, and being silent does not calm my pain.
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"Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?
7 You have worn me out, God; you have let my family be killed.
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But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made desolate all my company.
8 You have seized me; you are my enemy. I am skin and bones, and people take that as proof of my guilt.
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You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me, It testifies to my face.
9 In anger God tears me limb from limb; he glares at me with hate.
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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 People sneer at me; they crowd around me and slap my face.
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They have gaped on me with their mouth; They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.
11 God has handed me over to evil people.
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God delivers me to the ungodly, And casts me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was living in peace, but God took me by the throat and battered me and crushed me. God uses me for target practice
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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 and shoots arrows at me from every side - arrows that pierce and wound me; and even then he shows no pity.
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His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall on the ground.
14 He wounds me again and again; he attacks like a soldier gone mad with hate.
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He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs on me like a giant.
15 I mourn and wear clothes made of sackcloth, and I sit here in the dust defeated.
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I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, And have thrust my horn in the dust.
16 I have cried until my face is red, and my eyes are swollen and circled with shadows,
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My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids.
17 but I am not guilty of any violence, and my prayer to God is sincere.
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Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.
18 O Earth, don't hide the wrongs done to me! Don't let my call for justice be silenced!
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"Earth, don't cover my blood, Let my cry have no place to rest.
19 There is someone in heaven to stand up for me and take my side.
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Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.
20 My friends scorn me; my eyes pour out tears to God.
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My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,
21 I want someone to plead with God for me, as one pleads for a friend.
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That he would maintain the right of a man with God, Of a son of man with his neighbor!
22 My years are passing now, and I walk the road of no return.
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For when a few years are come, I shall go the way from whence I shall not return.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.