Job’s Fifth Speech

1 ThenJob answered and said,

2 “I have heard many things like these;

all of you are miserable comforters.

3 Is there a limit to windy words?

What provokes you that you answer?

4 I myselfalso could talk as you,

if you were in my place;

I could join against you with words,

and I could shake at you with my head.

5 I couldencourage you with my mouth,

and the solace of my lips wouldease the pain.

6 If I speak, my pain is not relieved;

and if I cease, how much will leave me?

7 “Surely now he has worn me out;

youhave devastated all my company.

8 Thusyou shriveled me up;

it became a witness.

And my leanness has risen up against me;

it testifies to my face.

9 His wrath has torn, and he has been hostile toward me;

he gnashed at me with his teeth.

My foe sharpens his eyes against me.

10 They gaped at me with their mouth;

they struck my cheeks with disgrace;

they have massed themselves together against me.

11 God delivers me to an evil one,

and he casts me into the hands of the wicked.

12 “I was at ease, thenhe broke me in two,

and he seized me by my neck;

thenhe shattered me

and set me up as a target for him.

13 His archers surround me;

he slashes open my kidneys, and he does not have compassion;

he pours out my gall on the ground.

14 He breached me breach upon breach;

he rushes at me like a warrior.

15 “I have sewed sackcloth on my skin,

and I have inserted my pridein the dust.

16 My face is red because of weeping,

and deep shadows are on my eyelids,

17 althoughviolence is not on my hands,

and my prayer is pure.

18 “O earth, you should not cover my blood,

and let there be no placefor my cry for help.

19 So now look, my witness is in the heavens,

and he who vouches for me is in the heights.

20 My friends scorn me;

my eye pours out tears to God,

21 and it arguesfor a mortal with God,

and as a humanfor his friend.

22 Indeed, after a few yearshave come,

thenI will go the way from which I will not return.