^[1]  Then Job answered and said,

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^[2]  I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all.

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^[3]  Shall vain words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

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^[4]  I also could speak as ye do; If your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could join words together against you, And shake my head at you.

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^[5]  But I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.

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^[6]  Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And though I forbear, what am I eased?

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^[7]  But now he hath made me weary: Thou hast made desolate all my company.

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^[8]  And thou hast laid fast hold on me, which is a witness against me: And my leanness riseth up against me, It testifieth to my face.

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^[9]  He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth: Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

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^[10]  They have gaped upon me with their mouth; They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully: They gather themselves together against me.

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^[11]  God delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.

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^[12]  I was at ease, and he brake me asunder; Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He hath also set me up for his mark.

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^[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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^[14]  He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.

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^[15]  I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And have laid my horn in the dust.

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^[16]  My face is red with weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

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^[17]  Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.

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^[18]  O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have noresting-place.

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^[19]  Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he that voucheth for me is on high.

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^[20]  My friends scoff at me: But mine eye poureth out tears unto God,

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^[21]  That he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor!

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^[22]  For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

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