1JOB ANSWERED: 2»I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters! 3»Is there no limit to windy words? Or what provokes you that you answer? 4»I too could speak like you, if I were in your place. I could compose words against you. And I would shake my head at you. 5»I could strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve your pain. 6»If I speak, my pain is not lessened. If I hold back how am I eased? 7»He has exhausted me. You have lain waste all my company. 8»You have shriveled me up. It has become a witness. And my leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face. 9»His anger has torn me and hunted me down. He has gnashed at me with his teeth. My adversary glares at me. 10»They have gaped at me with their mouth. They have slapped me on the cheek with contempt. They have massed themselves against me. 11»God hands me over to ruffians. He tosses me into the hands of the wicked. 12»I was at ease, but he shattered me. He has grabbed me by the neck and has shaken me to pieces. He has also set me up as his target. 13»His arrows surround me. Without mercy he splits my kidneys open. He pours out my gall on the ground. 14»He breaks through me with breach after breach. He runs at me like a warrior. 15»I have sewed sackcloth over my skin and thrust my horn strength in the dust. 16»My face is flushed from weeping. The shadow of death is on my eyelids. 17»There is no violence in my hands. My prayer is pure. 18»O earth, do not cover my blood, And let my cry have no resting place. 19»Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high. 20My friends are my scoffers. My eye weeps to God. 21»O that a man might plead with God As a man with his neighbor! 22»For when a few years are past, I shall go the way of no return.