Job Decries His Comforters

1Bvt Iob answered, and said,

2I haue oft times heard such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

3Shall there be none ende of wordes of winde? or what maketh thee bold so to answere?

4I could also speake as yee doe: (but woulde God your soule were in my soules stead) I could keepe you company in speaking, and could shake mine head at you,

5But I woulde strengthen you with my mouth, and the comfort of my lips should asswage your sorowe.

6Though I speake, my sorow can not be asswaged: though I cease, what release haue I?

7But now hee maketh mee wearie: O God, thou hast made all my congregation desolate,

8And hast made me full of wrinkles which is a witnesse thereof, and my leannes ryseth vp in me, testifying the same in my face.

9His wrath hath torne me, and hee hateth me, and gnasheth vpon mee with his teeth: mine enemie hath sharpened his eyes against me.

10They haue opened their mouthes vpon me, and smitten me on the cheeke in reproch; they gather themselues together against me.

11God hath deliuered me to the vniust, and hath made mee to turne out of the way by the hands of the wicked.

12I was in welth, but he hath brought me to nought: he hath taken me by the necke, and beaten me, and set me as a marke for himselfe.

13His archers compasse mee rounde about: he cutteth my reines, and doth not spare, & powreth my gall vpon the ground.

14He hath broken me with one breaking vpon another, and runneth vpon me like a gyant.

15I haue sowed a sackcloth vpon my skinne, and haue abased mine horne vnto the dust.

16My face is withered with weeping, and the shadow of death is vpon mine eyes,

17Though there be no wickednesse in mine hands, and my prayer be pure.

18O earth, couer not thou my blood, & let my crying finde no place.

19For lo, now my witnesse is in the heauen, and my record is on hie.

20My friends speake eloquently against me: but mine eye powreth out teares vnto God.

21Oh that a man might pleade with God, as man with his neighbour!

22For the yeeres accounted come, and I shal go the way, whence I shall not returne.