| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Then Job replied: | 1In response, Job said: |
| 2"I have heard many things like these before. What miserable comforters are you all! | 2"I've heard many things like this. What miserable comforters you all are! |
| 3Will there be an end to your windy words? Or what provokes you that you answer? | 3Will windy words like yours never end? What is upsetting you that you keep on arguing? |
| 4I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could pile up words against you and I could shake my head at you. | 4"I could also talk like you if only you were in my place! Then I would put together an argument against you. I would shake my head at you |
| 5But I would strengthen you with my words; comfort from my lips would bring you relief. | 5and encourage you with what I have to say; my words of comfort would lessen your pain. |
| 6"But if I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I refrain from speaking--how much of it goes away? | 6"But if I speak, my pain isn't assuaged; if I refrain from speaking, what do I have to lose?" |
| 7Surely now he has worn me out, you have devastated my entire household. | 7"God has certainly worn me out; you devastated my entire world. |
| 8You have seized me, and it has become a witness; my leanness has risen up against me and testifies against me. | 8You've arrested me, making me testify against myself! My leanness rises up to attack me, accusing me to my face. |
| 9His anger has torn me and persecuted me; he has gnashed at me with his teeth; my adversary locks his eyes on me. | 9His anger tears me in his persistent resentment against me; he gnashes his teeth at me. My adversary glares at me. |
| 10People have opened their mouths against me, they have struck my cheek in scorn; they unite together against me. | 10People gaped at me with mouths wide open; they slap me in their scorn and gather together against me. |
| 11God abandons me to evil men, and throws me into the hands of wicked men. | 11God has delivered me over to the ungodly, throwing me into the control of the wicked. |
| 12I was in peace, and he has shattered me. He has seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has made me his target; | 12"He tore me apart when I was at ease; grabbing me by my neck, he shook me to pieces— then he really made me his target. |
| 13his archers surround me. Without pity he pierces my kidneys and pours out my gall on the ground. | 13His archers surround me, slashing open my kidneys without pity; he pours out my gall on the ground. |
| 14He breaks through against me, time and time again; he rushes against me like a warrior. | 14Attack follows attack as he breaks through my defenses! He runs over me like a mighty warrior. |
| 15I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and buried my horn in the dust; | 15"I've even sewn sackcloth directly to my skin; I've buried my strength in the dust. |
| 16my face is reddened because of weeping, and on my eyelids there is a deep darkness, | 16My face is red from my tears, and dark shadows encircle my eyelids, |
| 17although there is no violence in my hands and my prayer is pure. | 17even though violence is not my intention, and my prayer is pure." |
| 18"O earth, do not cover my blood, nor let there be a secret place for my cry. | 18"Listen, earth! Don't cover my blood, for my outcry has no place to rest. |
| 19Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. | 19Even now, behold! I have a witness in heaven, my Advocate is on high. |
| 20My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; | 20My friends mock me, while my eyes overflow with tears to God, |
| 21and he contends with God on behalf of man as a man pleads for his friend. | 21crying for him to arbitrate between this man and God; as a human being does with his fellow neighbor. |
| 22For the years that lie ahead are few, and then I will go on the way of no return. | 22For when only a few years have elapsed, I'll start down a path from which I'll never return." |
|
    |