King James Version KJV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 Then Job answered and said,
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In response Iyov said:
2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
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"I have heard this stuff so often! Such sorry comforters, all of you!
3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
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Is there no end to words of wind? What provokes you to answer this way?
4 I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.
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"If I were in your place, I too could speak as you do -I could string phrases together against you and shake my head at you.
5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
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I could 'strengthen' you with my mouth, with lip service I could 'ease your grief.'
6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
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If I speak, my own pain isn't eased; and if I don't speak, it still doesn't leave.
7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
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"But now he has worn me out; you have desolated this whole community of mine.
8 And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.
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Besides, you have shriveled me up; and this serves to witness against me. My being so thin rises up against me and testifies to my face.
9 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
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He tears me apart in his anger; he holds a grudge against me; he gnashes on me with his teeth. "My enemies look daggers at me.
10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.
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Wide-mouthed, they gape at me; with scorn, they slap my cheeks; they gather themselves together against me.
11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.
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"God delivers me to the perverse, throws me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.
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I was at peace, and he shook me apart. Yes, he grabbed me by the neck and dashed me to pieces. He set me up as his target
13 His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
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his archers surrounded me. He slashes my innards and shows no mercy, he pours my gall on the ground.
14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.
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He breaks in on me again and again, attacking me like a warrior.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
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"I sewed sackcloth together to cover my skin and laid my pride in the dust;
16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
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my face is red from crying, and on my eyelids is a death-dark shadow.
17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
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Yet my hands are free from violence, and my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
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"Earth, don't cover my blood; don't let my cry rest [without being answered].
19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
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Even now, my witness is in heaven; my advocate is there on high.
20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
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With friends like these as intercessors, my eyes pour out tears to God,
21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
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that he would arbitrate between a man and God, just as one does for his fellow human being.
22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
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For I have but few years left before I leave on the road of no return.