New International Version NIV
World English Bible WEB
1 Then Job replied:
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Then Job answered,
2 “I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters, all of you!
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"I have heard many such things. Miserable comforters are you all!
3 Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing?
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Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
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.
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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 But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
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But I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.
6 “Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I refrain, it does not go away.
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"Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?
7 Surely, God, you have worn me out; you have devastated my entire household.
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But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made desolate all my company.
8 You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness; my gauntness rises up and testifies against me.
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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 God assails me and tears me in his anger and gnashes his teeth at me; my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.
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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 open their mouths to jeer at me; they strike my cheek in scorn and unite together against me.
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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 turned me over to the ungodly and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.
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God delivers me to the ungodly, And casts me into the hands 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;
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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 his archers surround me. Without pity, he pierces my kidneys and spills my gall on the ground.
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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 Again and again he bursts upon me; he rushes at me like a warrior.
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He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs on me like a giant.
15 “I have sewed sackcloth over my skin and buried my brow in the dust.
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I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, And have thrust my horn in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping, dark shadows ring my eyes;
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My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids.
17 yet my hands have been free of violence and my prayer is pure.
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Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.
18 “Earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry never be laid to rest!
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"Earth, don't cover my blood, Let my cry have no place to rest.
19 Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high.
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Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.
20 My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God;
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My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,
21 on behalf of a man he pleads with God 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 “Only a few years will pass before I take the path 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 quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.